From the recycled glass vessels with handcrafted copper crowns that house soy wax candles, to the vibrant patterns that conjure art and fabrics from the Spanish Renaissance to Moroccan tapestries that adorn their packaging, Altru, the upscale interior fragrance collection of candles, fragrance oils, incense sticks, and incense accessories, at first glance appears to be another haute fragrance line, but there is something more auspicious at work. Proceeds from the sale of Altru candles, fragrance oils, incense sticks, and incense accessories go toward In A Perfect World, a national non-profit organization that Manuela Testolini founded in 2005. IAPW works with community-based organizations to inspire and empower children to become compassionate, socially conscious and responsible leaders. IAPW has begun establishing strong partnerships with other charitable organizations, such as Free Arts Minnesota.

Can you tell us more about IAPW?

MT: I launched IAPW in 2005 and our mission is to inspire and empower children to be compassionate, socially conscious, responsible leaders. We do this in a variety of ways:

•by providing opportunities for children to express themselves artistically about issues that impact their lives;
•by supporting existing community-based organizations whose programs address these needs and issues, and develop the type leadership in children consistent with our mission;
•by bringing together community, corporate, and thought leaders, educators, and researchers to heighten the awareness of children’s views and seek their support to provide sustainable solutions to achieve this mission;
•and by recognizing extraordinary youth leaders for their contribution to positive change in their community.

I believe that when we give children the platform to allow their dreams, ideas, and thoughts to be heard, their innate desire for ‘a perfect world’ can significantly change the outlook of the future!
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Listen up, my five male readers! I’ve found just your solution in soothing razor burn, irritation and redness. Ladies, kindly pause before hitting the scroll button. Now that I’ve got both of your undivided attention, let me share my shameless affection for The Cool Fix ($25), a gel-lotion that will make your shaving and/or waxing experience less like painful medieval torture. If you’re tired of staring at your shelves of worthless products that still leave you red, stubbled, and broke, keep reading. Paraben-free, the cooling and intensely nourishing gel provides instant results, and yields, for both men and women alike, the following benefits:

After sampling The Cool Fix on both my eye and bikini area, I was satisfied with how quickly it reduced the requisite post-bikini shave redness and itch, and how it didn’t clog my sensitive, combination skin post eyebrow wax. Snag this find at Sephora asap!

During the frenetic week that was Fashion Week, I wasn’t able to attend Project Runway Season Five winner, Leanne Marshall’s, terrific presentation. Luckily, my fashionista friend and sartorial consort, wmc, attended in my stead, and we were both floored by Marshall’s pieces which seemed to be both voluminous and structural, form-fitting and flattering, all at once. Known for her attention to architectural structure and detail, she sent out pieces that consistently showcased her signature play with angles, pleating, and unexpected romantic nuance. So it’s no surprise that she should now make New York City her home as well as her inspiration for her new fall collection: last October’s runway show was inspired by the elegant shape of an ocean wave; this time Marshall looked to the buildings of the Big Apple as her muse. Her new pieces were thus simultaneously glorious and muted, at turns offering grace and the fulfillment of an urbane fantasy. Intricate detailing near the waists and collars enhance the concept, as evidenced by two stunning ball gowns, one purple and one black, standing side by side in complementary silhouettes like refined licorice flavors. Simply put, Leanne Marshall’s pieces were covet-worthy.

This summer Leanne Marshall returns with her signature petal silhouettes and a shock of color in her affordable ($98-$990), yet refined, eco-friendly capsule collection for Bluefly.com. I was invited to preview the collection, and I was instantly smitten. The collection consists of nine pieces: one formal gown, two everyday dresses, one skirt, two tanks, two knit tops, and a short jacket, all in shades of coral, cream or blue. And although the pieces, at first glance, seem simple, up close the fabrics are sumptuous, and the tailoring, a definitive nod to Marshall’s graphic design background, rivals Alexander Wang and flatters an array of body types.

Believe me when I say that I cannot wait to check out the collection on July 8, when it debuts on Bluefly.com. View additional snaps from the collection after the jump.
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Craving a distinctive piece of jewelry and want to support an independent designer? I’m crazy in love with Emily Elizabeth Jewelry, and when I heard she’s offering the whole of her wares at 35% off, I had to tell you guys! Check out more snaps from the collection after the jump!

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Developing and launching Fashion For All, my burgeoning non-profit, has significantly changed my life. But I’m always on the hunt to learn more about other amazing non-profit organizations across the country, which could be potential partners. For which organizations do you volunteer? Feel free to include links & chat about your volunteer experiences.

There was a time when you’d hobble home, heels in hand, face-full of makeup, to collapse into a crumble of sheets. You’d fall as the sun rose, and weekends had become one long stretch of night. These were numbers scrawled on napkins, binding clothes, and one-too-many cocktail, kind of affairs. And who cares that you woke to a smear of red and black on the pillow? This was 2001, and I was all about the party and cared little for the aftershocks.

Funny how time sorts things. Now I prefer the quiet over the blaring, flats tucked in handbags, crumbles in the oven, friends at the table, and a clean face. Because gone are the fanciful days of irresponsibility, thank god!. Now I’m all about clear complexions and clean pillowcases.

Now the summer (monsoon season) has arrived, I’m dreading the humidity and oil-in-the-dark complexions, and my sensitive skin needs a little love on the cheap. Face, meet Simple. A renowned U.K. skincare brand that’s made its way stateside, Simple offers those with sensitive skin a line of products that will clean, tone, and moisturize skin. And after snagging a packet of Cleansing Facial Wipes at Duane Reade ($5.99), I’m a believer. Alcohol and oil free and formulated with with the gentlest ingredients possible (no perfumes or dyes), not only did the wipes remove all of my makeup (including the stubborn waterproof mascara), it left my skin clean without stripping it of natural oils. I use the wipes in the evening and supplement with a delicious serum (my current covet: Liz Earle’s Superskin Concentrate - more on this later).

But if you’ve got a little wiggle in your wallet, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share my love for Arcona’s Triad Refresh Pads ($30). Formulated for all skin types, the cleansing pads are a handy cosmetic bag must-snag. Not only do they leave my skin clean and toned, but I’m left with blissed-out, hydrated skin. Akin to all products in the Arcona line, Triad Pads are cosmetically formulated with pure, natural ingredients (the first three ingredients are Witch Hazel extract, Rice Milk, and Cranberry Fruit extract, respectively), cold-pressed in small batches to keep them fresh, active, and effective. In short, the products have an expiration date and ingredients I can actually pronounce. So if you’re seeking the skin delicious look and a product that delivers, order the Triad pads now!

because building a business without a safety net is NOT easy from Felicia Sullivan on Vimeo.

Some days are pictures you want to keep taking while others are the kind you want to shred. As the process moves forward I realize it’s not getting any easier and the risks are mounting. But the idea of going back - of returning to a desk with a a computer and task list and a heart that’s wavering - brings me to tears. I’ve given fourteen years of my life to other companies; I want to give the next forty to myself and other people. But this isn’t brave or bold or any of these stalwart adjectives that one doles out like treats to make you feel good about yourself, but I want to shout that what I’m feeling is more like terror. The terror that makes you pace your house at night. The terror that makes you realize that meeting your rent is a challenge. The terror that makes you want to find out what’s on the other side of the divide. I wish I could say this process is easy, but it’s not. There are so many miraculous people and organizations I’ve met while launching a non-profit, but there is that small plea, that pragmatic voice that whispers of health insurance and biweekly paychecks.

I don’t know where the next three months will take me, but the clock is ticking and time is running out.

Carol Shaw is one of Hollywood’s most coveted makeup artists. With a hairstylist father and a manicurist mother, it’s safe to say that LORAC creator Carol Shaw was born into the beauty business. As a teenager, a makeover at a Beverly Hills salon (a graduation present from her aunt) changed not only her look, but her life as well. “I’ll never forget how incredible that makeup artist made me feel,” says Shaw, who left that day realizing her destiny — to become a makeup artist.

Through the years, Shaw noticed that most of her clients had the same major grievances about skincare and makeup as she did. They complained that too many products irritated their skin, looked and felt artificial and simply didn’t last. Shaw was determined to develop a line that met the needs of her celebrity clients. The result? LORAC (Carol spelled backwards)!

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Carol Shaw, who not only reveals how she launched one of the eminent global cosmetic brands, but she also shares some of her summer beauty tips.

Although we’re in the midst of a precarious economy, many are finding, ironically enough, that now is the best time to start a business. You started out as, and continued to be, a revered makeup artist who’s worked with eminent names in fashion and film. Can you speak to the process of how and why you went from freelancing to launching your own cosmetics company?

CS: I have always had ultra-sensitive skin — I battled with acne my whole life. There was not makeup on the market (at that time) that I felt safe and comfortable wearing and that didn’t irritate my skin, look artificial or look like Pepto-Bismol in the component.

As a working makeup artist, my inspiration was to create makeup that was especially for sensitive skin and that could be used in every day life, for the red carpet and for fashion photography. Because I was (and am!) a working makeup artist, I was hearing very similar complaints from the celebrities I was working with. Since they were wearing makeup for 15 to 20 hours a day, their skin was getting irritated, their makeup felt heavy and it didn’t look like real skin. Their feedback helped me get going and I knew that LORAC was something I had to do for myself, my celebrity clients and for all women.

The line started with ten bottles of Oil-Free Foundation, four Cover-Ups, three Loose Powders and an Oil-Free Moisturizer. It was all about skin and that’s still my philosophy.

What are some of the personal and professional challenges you’ve faced while launching LORAC?

CS: What challenge did I not face! The bottom line is I worked 24/7 on LORAC and as a working Celebrity Makeup Artist.

Personally — My one bedroom apartment in West Hollywood became the LORAC warehouse and is where I did everything — shipping, packaging, research & development, etc. I gave up my living space (there was no entertaining or having boys over!) for LORAC.

Professionally, the challenge was that the labs didn’t want to do small runs. Also, I had limited funds to work with. LORAC is self-financed so before I started I gave myself an ultimatum: I could buy a condo or start the line that I always dreamed of. I opted to stay in that little apartment and start LORAC with my savings. It was a risk but it was my dream and heart’s desire.
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Sometimes the route to finding the best skin products is about tuning out the noise and listening to yourself. Smug brands, dime-store estheticians, clever packaging (of course we want that crystal jar and the bejeweled case! It’s healing properties are on the verge of mythic!), are not only confusing, but can lead to us spending an extraordinary amount of money on products that don’t work, or don’t need. I’m a casualty of this bullying, and have the barely used products to prove it. Did I really need that night cream? No, I did not. Should I be using that creme cleanser on combination skin? Only a lunatic would. And more importantly - should I have drop-kicked that Equinox facialist who told me I had dry, “terrible” skin when four estheticians and a dermatologist politely inquired if that woman was smoking something (not their words, my retelling)?

Although I consider myself pretty tough, laying supine while someone dissects all of your flaws has the ability to reduce me to a whimpering, credit-card-relinquishing, mess. Chalk it up to my type-A personality, but my knee-jerk response to a problem is: How do I fix it? And it’s only after my visit to the Dermalogica concept store in Soho did I realize that I’ve never really been educated about my skin; I’ve only been sold products that promised to fix nebulous conditions. When I visited the spacious, sleek, and modern Soho space, I checked out the Skin Bar, where a skin therapist cleaned my skin and delivered a very detailed analysis of my 13 facial zones.

And this concept of pushing knowledge rather than product, impacted me as a consumer and a potential brand evangelist. And since the tide has turned from crass consumerism to that which is necessary and effective, Dermalogica, as a skincare brand, couldn’t be more relevant.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Dermalogica’s CEO, Jane Wurwand, and she spoke about the brand, conservative global expansion, and the importance of listening to the consumer.

Although we’re in the midst of a precarious economy, many are finding, ironically enough, that now is the best time to start a business. As someone who is a successful entrepreneur, can you speak to the process of how you launched your company?

JW: My process was to ignore all of the advice that well-meaning people insisted on giving me. They all told me that it would never work. As I grew more determined and more successful, I realized that people telling me that was crazy was usually a good sign that I was doing something right. Simply because most people are not risk takers and are in fact, risk aversive. Natural entrepreneurs are, by nature, risk takers and see the up side of the situation. We focus on the opportunity and not the challenge.

To get started, my husband Raymond and I [then boyfriend] were able to borrow a little money–very little - about $14,000. Then we simply began being and living in the reality which we had envisioned. We took a five-year lease on 1,000 sq.ft. space and set up our school for skin therapists near our apartment, because I had to be able to walk there–I didn’t have a car at the time. We began with the education, because this was where I saw the greatest need. My credo is that if you can identify the greatest ‘pain’ in an industry, then you have identified the greatest opportunity.

Two years into offering classes, I realized that there were no products, which were really suitable for the curriculum we had created. So, I set about to create products which I wanted to use in my classes. Again, chemists told me what I wanted was impossible. This was because I wanted to formulate without mineral oil, S D alcohol, artificial color, artificial fragrance, lanolin–all things that were present in every other skin care product at the time, and are still present in many of them today.

They all said it couldn’t be done. Apparently, they were all mistaken. My process always consists of listening to my own intuition. It’s not that I think everyone else is wrong. If they, too, are speaking from a place of intuition, I’m very interested in what they have to say. If they’re just nervous because I’m suggesting something outside their comfort-zone, well - this is why I don’t work for anyone else.
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Have you ever wandered into a store and felt as if you had been transported to another time? A time that now only exists in film: lavish gowns replete with epic layers of organza and silk embroidery, hair coiled and piled high, porcelain complexions, hand-painted mouths, and parfum bottles crafted from fine crystal. An era where ladies donned gloves and every gentlemen wore a hat. Whenever I step into Sabon (’soap’ in Hebrew), a lavish boutique filled with hand-crafted soaps, bath and beauty products, I find myself pining for a castle in Versailles, or at least a bit part in Marie Antoinette. With 75 locations across the globe, Sabon offers everyday luxury through the art of aromatherapy oils and herbs from the Israeli countryside coupled with Dead Sea extracts, herbs and flowers housed in old-fashioned apothecary glass bottles.

This week I was invited to an exclusive blogger event, where representatives from Sabon unveiled their new organic line. Free of parabens and sulfates, the affordable line offers anti-aging and firming serums and creams, as well as their signature moisturizers and body scrubs. After exfloliating the city grime off my hands with the Organic Body Scrub ($30), I sampled the Hand Cream ($18), which left my hands unbelievably smooth and smelling of shea and olive oils. And all was faring well as I sampled soaps, day creams, and face serums, and then I discovered an item worth coveting. The one item you’d likely beat and claw out of your friend’s hands - the Eye-Lifting Serum ($39). Break out the ponies as I’m riding side-saddle, my friends!!! An instant wake-up, the elixir provides an immediate lifting affect, instantly reducing the appearance of wrinkles. And although I’m wrinkle-free, I did notice a freshness and the deep under-eye circles (from waking at 3:45am, but that’s a whole other sordid affair worthy of a stand-alone post) fading from view. No longer did I need to travel around the city in a bee-keeper’s veil or go through foundation and concealer at a rabid clip.

I adore Sabon’s old-world charm; sometimes I slip into the Soho location and immerse my hands in cool water, inhale the rose water, and indulge in a bar of soap wrapped in elegant tissue. Because although my bank account wasn’t what it used to be, I revel in minor indulgences and a bar of stately, fragrant soap.

Images courtesy of Sabon.

fab find: nyx cosmetics from Felicia Sullivan on Vimeo.

Products featured in the video:

If you’re scouting for department store makeup at drugstore prices, check out NYX Cosmetics. As I relayed in the video, the epic glide, sheen, and color of the NYX products is on par with my traumatic Sephora/YSL blitzkrieg. I adore YSL, I do, but lately my budget is more Snapple than Sephora.

Tell me - is that a rugelach or is that a rugelach. Over dinner the other night, my friend and I determined that if a girl couldn’t sit down and eat an honest cupcake, she wasn’t a girl worth knowing. We would dole out sympathy if she wasn’t a cupcake-eating sort, however, if she even pursed her lips at the sign of a homemade sweet, we’d hit the ground running. After we made this bold proclamation over Thai food, we headed over to one of my dear friend’s favorite sweet spots: Pinisi Bakery, a family owned & operated bakery, where all the goods are made on-site.

The options were endless! Who could refuse the babka bread topped with a cinnamon swirl? Who in their right mind could turn away from a red velvet cupcake with a tuft of blonde icing?! And who wouldn’t maw at their sleeve if they couldn’t savor the caramelized sugar, the fruity raspberry and the crumbly dough of a rugelach (remember when I made it?!). If you’re able to walk away from all of this deliciousness without wailing, I’m sorry, you’re not human.

The shop is pretty cozy with a small counter filled with books, but the sweets are worth the visit.

Once upon a time, ages ago it seems, there was a season we’ll call “spring.” Crazy concept, I realize, but it was a time when you wore poplin jackets and sidewalks were fragrant with jasmin, lilac, and honeysuckle. You draped sweaters over your shoulders for the chilly nights and you were sometimes brazen and wore shorts, rebelling against winter as if it were a petulant child. This all may sound foreign, like Dep gel, Sun-in, and a time when MTV actually mattered, but I assure you that we used to have such a season. And soon spring would fade and the air would become sultry, your clothes whittled down to a flimsy cotton dress and bare legs, and you barreled down streets with the top down. With an abandon which only comes from a hot sun and an indigo sky.

If you have blonde or brown hair or are looking for a flash of gold, check out Oribe’s 24K Gold Pomade ($49 for 1.7fl oz). Score instant bewitching, lustrous gold highlights with this crushed gold pomade (yes, it’s indeed real gold). Think of this as make-up for your locks, with an added bonus of hair nourishment and UV protection. Be forewarned that this isn’t for the meek, but for the daring girl with hair of white fire, rollicking on suburban streets, running over a baseball mit and sideswiping Suburbans and those Razor scooters we’d all like to incinerate.

Warning: Might shine your clothes, too. Undress with care. Shampoo thoroughly (maybe even twice).

Mexican High: Love it, Read it! from Felicia Sullivan on Vimeo.

Prattling on about how much I adore Liza Monroy’s Mexican High, I neglected to mention a major underlying subplot - Mila’s search for the her father, a Mexican high-ranking official who has been a shadowy figure for the whole of her life until now. I keep flipping through pages, eager for the encounter.

I cannot impress upon you enough how much I love this book - this is the kind of novel that moves so quickly it upsets you because you want to be immersed in this world forever. Buy it, check it out from the library, pass it along to your friends, now!

But wait! There’s more. I have an extra copy of Mexican High to give away. Simply leave a comment with your favorite summer read and you’ll be automatically entered to win. One winner will be picked, at random, on July 3, 8am EST.