Treat your Dad with luxury this Father’s Day. We are proud to anounce Sothys of Paris skin care line, as one of the most luxurious gifts ever. Yes, Father’s love to be pampered too!

Even though you may not think it to be true, men actually have more sensitive skin problems than women do. The Sothys Homme System is specifically designed with the needs of male skin in mind. Routine care like shaving can wreck havoc on a man’s face. Sothys Homme is meant to be a skin care routine to help treat those problems. Almost every Sothys Homme product contains an amino – which is derived from the distillation of malt from Scottish Whiskey. This creates Phytomalt - a rich amino acid that is known for its soothing, and calming effects.

‘Sothys of Paris - Men’s skin care line’

We loved this product so much we gave a few of our gentleman friend’s here at Couture a skin care line to try. We sampled Sothys HOMME Exfoliating Scrub and Detoxifying Active Cleasner.

” Who need’s a spa when you have Sothys of Paris! After shaving I used the detoxifying active cleanser which was light and went on smooth. Afterwards I used the scrub, which had a great violet color, scent, and small micro beads. And it really left my skin smooth and soft! You can really tell the luxury in this product. From the packaging to the product itself. I loved it!”
Steven - Los Angeles, CA

And our editor, couldn’t rave more!

“I think Sothys of Paris is a wonderful product. It makes the perfect Father’s Day gift. I had my boyfriend try the product. And he really enjoyed the scent of the cleanser and the scrub. Both products left his skin very clean. And gave him a healthy glow. He loved the packaging! And is actually considering purchasing the scrub as a gift for his father. ”
Angelique - Editor of Couture in the City

Give your Pere (Father) something he can relax and look great with! Give him Sothys of Paris. And remember Father’s Day is on June 15th! Au Revoir!

Source: Sothys of Paris, KMR New York

Popularity: 4% [?]

Here we are ladies, our prayers have been answered! Finally, we have reached a natural alternative to those Botox injections. Yes, Frownies is here.

Frownies is Hollywoods best kept secret. But that is no longer the case. This fab age defying, anti wrinkle system has been featured in O Magazine, and Good Housing Keeping alike.

Now before we get into the exciting part i.e. testing the product. There is an amazing history behind Frownies and how it began.

Frownies were created in 1889 after Margaret Kroesen discovered that her daughter Alice, a concert pianist, had developed unsightly wrinkles and frown lines. With a desire to maintain her youthful beauty and stage presence, Mrs. Kroesen created Wrinkle Eradicators (as they were first called) by employing the basic principle of fitness to the muscles of the face. Several years later, Mrs. Kroesen’s entered the business world; she joined B & P Company (Beauty and Personality) as Managing Director. By offering only her Wrinkle Eradicators and skin treatments, which has become a great success up until today.

Frownies - Face Lift in a bag

Now I have had the honor of trying this fabulous product. And I can’t rave about it enough. After using the whole kit, Face Lift in a bag. My skin was radiant, bright, supple and plump. And beautiful, like I stepped out of a plastic surgeons office after having a few light botox and dermabrasion surgical procedures. Yes, I can hear it in your voice, you are excited!

But to get the full results you have to use the whole kit.

Frownies - Ph Balancing Wash -Contains the freshness of lavender essential oil and the cleaning power of soapwort and soap yucca to detoxify, balance, and clean the skin’s surface.

Start with the ph Balancing Complexion Wash. Apply small drop (less than dime size) in the palm of your hand, and work into lather with slightly cool to warm water. Apply to the entire face and neck area as well as under eyes, rinse well.

*Note from Frownies: Never use hot water on the face it is very drying.

Frownies - Immune Perféct Wrinkle Cream

Secondly, apply Frownies Immune Perféct Wrinkle Cream I just loved the texture of this lotion and the way it gently absorbs into the skin. Instantly I noticed my skin is hydrated bright and plump. This rich formula has powerful cellular interactive antioxidants with active Vitamin E and 17 amino acids! Use all over the the entire face, under the eyes and the neck area.

*Note from Frownies: Do not put the gel cream in the palm of you hand and rub. This activates the delivery system and the penetration begins in your hands.

Frownies - Facial Pads

Frownies - Facial Pads - How to apply to the face

Thirdly, wet Frownies Facial Patches using Hydrator Spray or distilled water and apply over the lines. Leave in place at least three hours or, for best results, overnight.

*Note: Remember to use plenty of water upon removing the pads. And don’t feel daunted by using the facial pads either. They do feel a little tight on the skin, so try to relax when wearing them for a few hours. But they are quite comfortable when you are use to wearing them. (Just think of the results!)

After removing the facial pads, the areas where the patches were are a little sensitive. And maybe a little red, so be gentle. But after a few minutues the results are amazing. Any minor wrinkles I had were completely gone. Plus the skin in those areas were firmer.

Rose Hydrator Spray

Now this is my favorite part, use the Hydrating Rose Spray as a daily toner, or after cleansing. It is a wonderfully refreshing pick up after exercising, or anytime of the day.

Now I truly loved this product. And I use it daily, especially the facial wash, hydrating spray and Immune Perféct lotion. I will now use the pads once a week, or every other week just for the tone and lift they give. But, what I truly love about the product is that it is made of natural ingredients.

I used Face Lift in a bag prior to a photo shoot, which gave me great results.

Jacqueline H. at photo shoot, having used Face Lift in a bag prior to shoot

You can visit the Frownies official website to learn more about this wonderful product. Also, Couture In the City will be giving away a Face lift in in a bag to one of our lucky readers. Check in to view the giveaway post for more details.

Source: Frownies.com, KMR Communicatuions, NY

Popularity: 5% [?]

In an essence spa treatments are essential to our health and well being. Top beauty day spas are catering to our every need with the best treatments available.

From hot rock therapy, body soothing treatments, full body massages, and customized facials. (Just to name a few). Here is Couture’s guide to some of the top beauty spas around the world.

Acqua Beauty Bar - New York, USA

White leather couches, stone tile floors, gleaming white walls, and watery blue opaque glass accents welcome clients to this Asian-inspired day spa.

Acqua Beauty Bar - Fifth Ave New York

Acqua is a very creative and relaxing spa. Eight private treatment rooms tout bamboo and paper screens, tatami mats, hand-embroidered blankets, and antique Chinese furnishings. The vast menu of facial and body treatments reflects Acqua’s effort to blend ancient therapies with modern skincare.

Bliss London - London, UK

Bliss London day spa, is primarily known for their veted bliss triple oxygen facials. The 85-minute triple oxygen facial includes cleansing, exfoliating, a fruit acid wash, wrap, extractions, face mask, face pack and oxygen spray, as well as some gentle massage during the wraps, peel and masks.

The Spa - Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Japan

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo

At The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, rise above the hectic traffic, beyond the strains of life and up into a serene world 36 floors high in the sky. Silent corridors lead to 4 treatment rooms and 5 private spa suites with extraordinary views. An amethyst crystal steam room, sky view sauna and rain showers all await you in this world class spa.

Source: Bliss London, The New York Times, Acqua Spa, Mandarin Oriental, Google.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

Continuing in a good fashion, we love to keep you up to date with fabulous goods at TheFind.com

Today we are featuring an array of beauty products which are hot, hot, hot! Be sure to see these fabulous features for yourself.

Lets start with Korres Natural Beauty Products.

Korres, Athens. Something that the ancient Greek gods would of used themselves. This intelligent array of products has its roots embedded deep within the oldest homeopathic pharmacy in Athens.

The history of Korres is as rich as the decadent body butters and nourishing creams they create. Their roster of ingredients reads more like a secret potion. That’s because every Korres product relies on plant extracts and essential oils of only the finest quality, which entice the senses and effectively treat the skin. Korres brand naturally achieves to bring out the Greek goddess in all of us!

My choice from TheFind.com is the Korres Natural Products Best of Korres 6-piece Natural Skincare Kit.

The Best of Korres Kit allows you to enjoy the very best of Korres’ natural skincare and bodycare products. This selection showcases Korres’ bestsellers, and was inspired by customer requests for their favorite products. Korres Best of Korres Kit Includes: 1.69 oz. Basil Lemon Shower Gel - fresh green spice with a vibrant lemon zest scent. This foaming cleanser is enriched with wheat proteins and aloe, and hydrates your skin as it cleanses. Retails at TheFind.com for $25.00.

Also at TheFind.com is Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish .

Featured in Allure magazine. This nail polish phenomenon, took several lab technicians to quit their jobs before they were satisfied with the polish that would bear the Rescue name. The result is a long-wearing polish created with resin and high molecular polymers to improve flexibility, durability and high shine. Retails at $18.00 a bottle.

Brown Sugar Body Polish is a body scrub with a natural blend of brown sugar, botanical and floral extracts and citrus essential oils. Real brown sugar crystals, saturated with healing oils, gently exfoliate and restore elasticity and suppleness to skin. Enriched with precious evening primrose, sweet almond, apricot kernel, and jojoba oils.

The therapeutic extracts include anti-inflammatory arnica and calendula, stimulating ginseng and peppermint. Retails at TheFind.com for $62.50.

Enjoy shopping at TheFind.com!

Source for images and content: TheFind.com

Popularity: 5% [?]

Now as we all know as the seasons change so does our skin care and make-up regime. Spring is finally here, and the long awaited season of summer soon to come! So now is the time to prepare! Get out your tanning lotions, and give yourself a glow. A favorite of mine is ‘Sublime Bronze’ self-tanning lotion for the face and body by L’Oreal. Perfect for this time of year, especially the light-medium as it gives your skin the glow it needs. The plus about this product is that it offers an SPF 15 sunscreen to protect your skin. So you are not only getting beautiful results, you are also getting great skin protection from the UV rays of the sun. It is streak-free, and has Vitamin E added for smoother skin.

At $9.99, available at many retail outlets (Walgreen’s, Rite Aid etc) where beauty products are available, it is a must for your skin care this season. So shop to it!

The Sublime Bronze collection also comes in a self-tanning gelee. In medium-deep. That is if you wish to get a slightly deeper tan. But also offers the same great protection as the cream.

Source: www.loreal.com

Now I am a huge fan of Sephora, and I am always recommending this fabulous store to friends and girlfriends (men and women alike). Now, if you have a Sephora near you, and you are a product hound (like me) I highly recommend that you pay a visit. Now don’t despair! If you don’t have a store located near you, then pay a visit to their site at www.sephora.com. Now I hope that you enjoy history, as were about to have a Sephora history lesson.

Sephora started its humble beginnings in France and had a chain of beauty stores which were founded in 1969. Acquired by Paris-based LVMH in 1997, Sephora became the leading retail beauty chain in Europe. And then opened its first US store in New York in 1997. With triple digit growth for the last ten years, Sephora is one of the fastest growing retailers in the US. Phew! Now that’s not all! Sephora is the Greek form of Tzipporah צִפּוֹרָה, which means ‘bird’ (female) in Hebrew, and was the name of the wife of Moses in the book of Exodus. OK, now I’m done! Had enough? Good, let’s get to product!

Continuing on our spring skin care line, I have chosen six of my beauty must haves from Sephora.com.

Starting with Anti-Oxidant Water Booster - Blueberry by Dr.Brandt.

What it is:
This blueberry flavored antioxidant water booster is a healthy and convenient way to increase skin’s health with three potent antioxidants: green tea, white tea and grapeseed. Retail’s at $35 a bottle.

Things get a little dangerous with DuWop’s ‘Venom’ line. A Series of lip plumping balms and lipsticks, that have a little ’sting’ when you apply them. My choice is ‘Prime Venom’.

What it is:
A matte finish plumping lip balm infused with the Lip Venom formula that also works as a lip primer. Retails at $20.00.

Sephora has its own fantastic line of make-up products. Which are also great for your wallet. Pick up Lush Flush Wine Lip & Cheek Stain by Sephora for only $10.00.

What it is:
A unique tint for lips and cheeks from Sephora that is formulated with red wine extract.

Great for spring is Sephora’s Peach Blossom Body Collection at $16.00 a piece.

What it is:
Bath and body products lightly scented with Sephora’s Peach Blossom fragrance.

Shiseido has a collection available at Sephora.com. My choice is The Makeup Multi-Shade Enhancer starting at $10.50-$25.00.

What it is:
A pressed powder bronzer composed of five coordinating shades.

And last but not least, a wonderful spring fragrance by L’Occitane, the magical ‘Cherry Blossom Set’, which retails at $42.00. Exclusively at Sephora.com.

What it is:
A trio of cherry blossom-scented body products from L’Occitane.

Well, now that you have a head start to your beauty regime, spring into action!

Source for products and images: Sephora.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

Elizabeth Arden Intervene SPF 15 Foundation

When I was asked to review the new Elizabeth Arden Intervene foundation, I must say, I was a little skeptical. I’m not a big fan of liquid foundation, and I didn’t think that in my twenties I would be interested in an anti-aging makeup.

After trying it out, I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised. Intervene provided great coverage and was so light, I couldn’t tell that I was even wearing makeup. And the results…well, see for yourself!

BEFORE

This is my before photo. You can tell because I don’t look very happy, and my skin is kind of patchy and tired looking (I have a toddler, so cut me some slack!). Okay, now I’m going to try out this swanky new makeup:

AFTER

Do I look happy and well-rested or what? Seriously, I’m not entirely sure how the “Biodormin” formula in Intervene works, but it’s made my imperfections virtually disappear. It’s also supposed to help delay the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, firms skin and contains SPF 15 to prevent sun damage. Bonus!

I didn’t get this look with the Intervene foundation alone…I did have a little extra help:

You can get my Elizabeth Arden makeover with a few simple every-day products! From the left:

Crystal Clear Lip Gloss: Had a faint minty scent, lasted long and felt smooth and not too sticky.

Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil in Smokey Black: so precise, I was tempted to do an homage to Amy Winehouse…comes with a spongey applicator on the opposite end for extra convenience.

Ceramide Lash Extendin Treatment Mascara in Black: promises it won’t smudge, flake or clump, and it didn’t for me!

Color Intrigue Bronzing Powder Duo: Comes in a convenient case with a mirror and a brush…great for dusting on your shoulders and chest for a night out.

Flawless Finish Maximum Coverage Concealer: Also comes with a little mirror and helped to hide my tired eyes.

So there you have it…if your current foundation just isn’t giving you the results you are looking for, then you must try out Elizabeth Arden Intervene foundation, available in 12 shades so you’ll be sure to find your perfect match.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Now that Santa has come and gone and 2007 is nearing an end, your thoughts may be turning to New Year’s resolutions. If you are like me, every year you resolve to lose weight/stop smoking/work on your debt/make new friends or whatever…but don’t really stick to it. But I’ve got a great resolution that is easy to stick with and just as easy to do; take care of yourself!

This may seem obvious, but if you really think about it, you may not be taking care of yourself like you should. Whether you are a new mom who has let yourself go a bit (ME!), a hardworking student who hits the books a little too hard, or just never learned to pamper yourself, then now is definitely the year to start. Check out these easy beauty and fashion New Year’s resolutions to get your groove back and start taking care of #1 again:

1 ) Hair: I’ve had the same old haircut for a few years now, and although I love it, sometimes it’s just so BORING. This new year, I resolve to do my hair more. I’ve already started actually…the Conair Infiniti Nano hair setter makes it really really easy to get fabulous Hollywood waves.

Conair Infiniti Nano Hairsetter at Target

2) Makeup and Skin: Sick of bad acne? Resolve to make that dermatologist appointment. Then take thee to the MAC counter and get thineself a makeover. Ask the cosmetologist for a night and day look that’s easy to apply and wear.

3) Health and Fitness: No more excuses! This is part of taking care of yourself…go to the doctor for an annual checkup, go to the “lady” doctor and get your Pap, and most importantly, start eating well and moving your butt. Need some inspiration? Queen Latifah just signed on to be the new spokesmodel for Jenny Craig…her message is more geared towards healthy living than squeezing your butt into a size six.

The Queen (source)

4) Mind and Soul: Been dying to learn Cajun cooking? Still have some unresolved issues about your mom? Wanna get back to some religious roots? Then do something about it! Whether you want to take a new cooking class, visit a therapist or rediscover a religion, then this is the time. Make time each week for your mind and soul; yoga is a great option for mind and body.

5) Fashion: Flats looking a bit scuffy? Only one dress in your closet? Jeans don’t fit quite right? Then resolve to make yourself look fab! Hire a stylist or personal shopper for the day if you are absolutely clueless about what looks are right for you, or just bring a fashionable friend to the mall for a day. My fashion resolution is to wear more pretty things (baby food stained tee shirts be gone!) and I’m going to start with this cute and versatile dress from Yu Clothing:

Yu Clothing, 10707

It may seem like a big order to fill, but resolving to take care of yourself is the best New Year’s resolution you can make. You owe it to yourself to ring in the new year right, and after all; if you don’t take care of yourself, then who will? Even if this whole package is too much, just pick one of the five facets of total well-being and you will be on your way to a happier, healthier you!

Popularity: 13% [?]