Last-Minute, Quickie Gifts for Valentine's Day

By Laura Medina

 

Stuck in a Valentine's Day rut?

Instead of wilting bouquet of flowers, this scribe has a series of perfumes and colognes that both gender will appreciate.

Lacoste just released EAU DE LACOSTE, the new signature fragrance for women.  Antoine Delgrange, Global Marketing Director P&G Prestige. “So we looked at turning this simple fashion design philosophy into a feminine and beautiful sensorial experience,” he adds. The result is a fragrance that captures the simple luxury of the refreshing feeling of pure white cotton on skin. To evoke the crisp, clean nature of cotton, a bouquet of white flowers brings to life the fresh, cooling caress of the fabric and conveys the sense of purity that white symbolizes. Channeling a mood of soft sensuality, creamy balsam tones add a resonant base. EAU DE LACOSTE is built on a classical fragrance structure, where the fragrance evolves smoothly from top to base notes over time, but superimposing modern ingredients on traditional ingredients, to generate a much lighter fragrance profile. EAU DE LACOSTE effervesces with sparkling freshness via juicy top notes of White Pineapple, with Mandarin and Bergamot from the unspoilt Italian region of Calabria. Expressing the purity that lies at the heart of the LACOSTE brand, the elegant, white floralcy of Orange Flower, Jasmine Sambac are woven with the almost textural quality of Pineapple Flower to create a delicately clean, natural femininity. A creamy and voluptuous sensuality lingers at the base, resonant of Sandalwood and Vanilla enveloped with Vetyver and Peru Balsam. Says Antoine Delgrange: “There is something truly sophisticated about a fragrance with a simple and unpretentious formula.” 

Approaching the most romantic of days and nights, this The Art of Shaving Rose Gold Shaving Brush by Mühle of Germany in feminine rose-gold with an extra soft, fluffy Fine Badger Hair in an handle measuring 3.85 inches in length, 1.18 inches in width in engraved detail handle can make shaving for soft, smooth skin easier and more fun.

Fine Badger Hair is handmade to preserve the soft white tips of the natural badger hair. Retains water to deliver a warm lather. Lightly exfoliates skin and helps lift beard hair. Engraved Handle detail is visually stunning as well as aids in an improved grip during use. High quality rose gold colored handle will help resist rust and wear well in a wet environment. 

 

The hottest actor is also the hottest hipster right, Jared Leto.

As HUGO Fragrances ambassador, Jared Leto, “Pushing boundaries is important for everyone – that’s when you find the greatest reward, the biggest breakthrough”. 
“I think creativity and pushing boundaries go hand in hand, and originality comes from individuals who are willing to take chances, to bet on themselves”. 

Thriving on pressure, Jared Leto sees life as both a journey and an adventure, actively seeking out new and innovative experiences to ensure he is constantly evolving and pushing himself to reach new heights. “People sometimes think of pressure as having negative connotations but I think it can be a great motivator to take control and define who you are. When you face a challenge it’s important to keep pushing yourself so you can learn and grow, and I always feel glad I did when I come out the other side.” Jared Leto

The acclaimed musician, music video director and film actor, Jared Leto, is the face of HUGO Fragrances. A modern icon of originality, he is renowned for his extraordinary creativity. 

“An innovative scent requires an innovative source of inspiration and HUGO Red is a great example of this. We wanted to create a perfume for men that captures the idea of pushing boundaries and to achieve this we found an unexpected parallel with the behavior of cold and hot metal. The result of our creation is a contemporary blend of contrasting ingredients, full of cold and hot tension that stimulates the wearer and leaves him feeling energized and ready to challenge himself.” - Will Andrews, P&G Fragrance Creation Team 

What most people don't know is that this is the 50th Anniversary of the legendary James Bond, 007.  During the Sochi Winter Olympics, BBC America is airing a mini-series on the man who created James Bond, Ian Fleming.

Thanks to his own cunningness during World War II,  Ian Fleming not only created James based on his own military experiences, he also single-handed change the ideal British Male, into a resourceful, debonair, cultured, Playboy-sque spy trained in the martial arts. 

Honoring the naughty man, Quantum, the third installment to the dangerously sophisticated James Bond 007 fragrance line, comprises a truly masculine and invigorating array of ingredients, combined to bring to life Bond’s sense of cool under pressure. 

For over fifty years 007 has captivated audiences with his mesmerizing confidence, unfailing composure and ability to keep cool under pressure – anytime, anywhere. Just as 007’s senses are awakened as he rises to the challenge, this intensely masculine fragrance invigorates body and mind allowing every man to harness fast-thinking and cool calm to accomplish the mission ahead with Bond-like confidence. 

Quantum is a composed and undeniably masculine fragrance comprising the most stimulating and distinguished ingredients; Quantum combines Bond’s experience and reassurance with his controlled confidence- an invincible combination when the stakes are high. 

The fragrance has a two phase character, enabling every man to acquire the very essence of Bond like composure: The Raw Masculinity Accord in the fragrance drives reassurance, via a classic masculine groomed scent character generations of men will relate to. Quantum opens with intensely potent Juniper Berries, evocative of Vesper Martini, with the resonance of Bergamot imparting an energizing citrus hit, to reflect Bond’s anticipation for the challenge. 

The deep woods of this accord are consistently masculine in their scent character, with the influence of Sandalwood in particular being associated with spiritual calm and focus – a virtue Bond is renowned for.

In traditional 007 Fragrance style, the distinctive and strongly masculine flacon resembles the sleek aesthetic synonymous with the Bond universe. The intricate metallic meshing texture found on the robust, gloss finish silver glass depicts the elegant and truly distinguished designs of Bond’s infamous car collection. Finally topped with the twist cap, this time in ‘danger’ red, the flacon brings to life the exhilaration and adrenaline of Quantum - the ultimate 007 gadget for men. 

As the pressure of the challenge intensifies, mental focus and composure become key. The Composure Accord takes action to complement and invigorate Bond’s readiness, reflected through the Raw Masculinity Accord. The reminiscent scent of leather, a luxurious and robust material featured in Bond’s elite and exclusive sports cars, is a key component to the Composure Accord; imparting its timeless and deep aroma to convey Bond’s intense metal focus. Enhanced by fragrant Violet Leaf, the Composure Accord awakens the senses enabling men everywhere to keep their cool when the stakes are high. 

Actually, the 50mL bottle for $40 and the 30mL bottle for $30 are available at Kohl's and Kohls.com.

If you're the more intellectual/cultural sort or if you want the complete set, Ron Robinson has The James Bond Archives, http://www.ronrobinson.com/HOMEGIFT-The-James-Bond-Archives-p/76530.htm.  

To celebrate 50 years of this innovative franchise, EON Productions opened their archives of photos, designs, storyboards, and production materials to editor Paul Duncan, who spent two years researching over one million images and 100 filing cabinets of documentation. The result is the most complete account of the making of the series, covering every James Bond film ever made, beginning with Dr. No (1962) and ending with Skyfall (2012), including the spoof Casino Royale (1967) and Never Say Never Again (1983). 

The stunning imagery is accompanied by an oral history recounted by over 150 cast and crew members, relating the true inside story of how the Bond films were made. Containing previously unpublished photography and artwork, as well as production memos from filming, this book is a comprehensive tribute to the legend of James Bond. 

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the most successful and longest-running film franchise in cinema history!
Made with unrestricted access to the Bond archives, this XL tome recounts the entire history of James Bond in words and pictures.

Among the 1,100 images are many previously unseen stills, on-set photos, memos, documents, storyboards, posters, and designs, plus unused concepts, and alternative designs. 

Let's face it, most people have types.   When you delve deeper, some has fetishes or obsessions.  Dian Hanson, Taschen's editor behind it's "The Big Breast/Butt/Legs/Penis...and it's latest hit on the vagina series, approaches eroticism from an anthropological and sociological point-of-view, explaining why we like what we like.

http://www.ronrobinson.com/APOTHIA-Los-Angeles-IF-Boudoir-Candle-p/9683.htm 
Also at but exclusively at Ron Robinson, it's own line of Apothia illuminating cream paraffin and soy Apothia Boudoir Votive candles do melt into a creamy luxurious balm of solid perfume and massage oil that you can rub it into your skin or your significant other's skin.  Nothing says caring like good skincare and massage therapy.  With this line of triple-purpose candles, for $35, you'll get a bang out of your buck.  Oh yeah, while heated, the candle does melt through latex and the perfumed balm does stain the sheets.  The candles come in peppermint-y vanilla martini called Velvet Rope to Soul's smooth combo of African ginger, rich mahogany, deep taboti wood, and grains of paradise.

 http://www.ronrobinson.com/SearchResults.asp?search=Lelo+smart+wand&Search2.x=20&Search2.y=4

If you need extra boost of stimulation, Lelo Smart Wand can gets things jump-started...hopefully.  The anatomically-designed Lelo Smart Wand can un-knot tension and relaxing muscles in the legs, arms, shoulders and neck. Meanwhile, innovative SenseTouch™ technology means vibrations build on skin contact, closely mimicking a professional massage technique.

Now, this is a brain and body-stimulating gift list for Valentine's Day.  Whatever floats your boat.

 

Just for One Night Only, on Valentine's Day, RentAGent.me

By Laura Medina

If impending Valentine's Night induces a full-on slaughter of migraine headaches due to the fact you have to dig through a series of bad blind dates and deal with full-blown nincompoops, all in the last minute.  God forbid, you're lucky enough to pick up a "Ted Bundy."

What about other nights and times and events, when you just want a decent date who doesn't make a complete fool of himself...and you!?

Why, as a very successful but busy woman, do you and your girlfriends have to bother with the digging and footwork when you all just want to have some capable companionship that keep you and your friends good company just for one night only?

Tinder for twenty-something "tweenies" just don't cut it.  You all have and had out-grown the "Sugar Daddy" phase because you all have moved onto the next level of "Sugar Mama."

What successful women need is a more mature, sophisticated methodology to just a date, no strings attached, no baggage.

Sometimes, you just need extra help, platonic professional, say you need a someone who can fix stuff around the house or an extra errand assistant who can proficiently carry out duties seamlessly?

Rent A Gent, http://rentagent.me/, comes to the rescue to frazzled damsels in distress.

Women can now have a man of their dreams at their disposal, by their own rules. 

It's beyond a dating site flooding the market with fast bimbos and gold-diggers like most companion sites.  It does all the footwork and shopping for you, offering an assortment of gentlemen for all sorts of occasions, ranging from impending Valentine's Day to fast-approaching Oscar gala to just someone to hang out at the Lakers/Knickers game. 











“I noticed there was a lack of good looking, worldly and talented men available to women. Today’s modern women are looking for something different.  Now, with our position of power soaring, Rent A Gent finally offers a new level of male entertainment so women can greatly enhance their social lives.”

Rent A Gent boasts a wide ranging, exclusive assortment of sexy, smart, and sophisticated men for rent.  Women can browse through a curated selection of men offering their talents, company, and assistance, for the day, evening, or hour.

The founder, Sara Shikhman, a former corporate attorney and serial entrepreneur, a man needs a package of looks, charm, personality, and intelligence to quality as a date for successful women. 

Sara stocks Rent A Gent with a diverse selection of men who are both eye and brain candy, from cute comedians making a woman laugh for a pleasant night-out-on-the town to philosophers who will make a woman proud at her boss' function and gala. 

Rent A Gent thoroughly reviews each male applicant in person before they can be part of the service; afterwards each finalist is evaluated by a panel of women.  Users of the site can shop by degree completed, special talent, height, body type, language, and location to find their ideal man.  Rent A Gent’s men are available to cook a gourmet meal, dance, give a guitar lesson, play an instrument, be a personal trainer, assemble furniture, or just serve as fabulous arm candy at an event. 

After booking a gent online and selecting his service, users can choose his outfit to ensure he will look smashing. To add to customers’ complete security, Rent A Gent offers a complimentary consultant service so customers can speak directly with a representative. Detailed reviews from past clients are available, as are the gents' mini-resumes, pictures, bios, and special talents.  Rent A Gent is so confident in their services, they offer a money back guarantee if your gent doesn’t make you swoon. 

 

Sometime, as this scribe mentions before, you just need extra help, no strings attached.  Rent A Gent also supplies bodyguards, assistants, butlers, drivers, handymen, and personal assistants, which is really important now for New York Fashion Week then Oscar Week.

Forget those lackluster French lessons that you booked, the run of the mill cooking classes, or tiresome music lessons, Rent A Gent provides women with an exciting and stimulating way to learn new skills and enrich their social lives.

 

Couple's Detox and Release with Burke Williams' Detox Enhancement & Valentine's Special

By Laura Medina

Detox Enhancement, left & Valentine's Day Couple's Special, right.

When your traditional, default gifts of flowers and chocolate (god forbid, you made a last-ditch effort at gas station stale roses) go predictably pedestrian, charge up your love life by taking that special someone to a Burke Williams Spa, especially their Santa Monica location.

 http://www.burkewilliamsspa.com/featured-special-detox-enhancement/

Or the very thought of Valentine's Day stresses you out, you can book this month's special of a Detox Enhancement.  This aromatic aromatherapy sounds like it was tailor-made for the foodie in your life.  An aromatherapy blend of juniper, cypress, ginger, fennel and lavender is incorporated into the de-knotting Pure Relaxation massage while the massage therapist rubs an heart-shaped Pink Himalayan salt exfoliating the skin as it detoxifies the body. All the savory sensation without the calories.

The massage/aromatherapist told this knotty, crooked, stressed-out scribe that there are ports or portals in the body that needs extra assistance in releasing the stress and the toxins out of the nerves and body.  Applying the aromatherapy blend of juniper, cypress, ginger, fennel and lavender helps releases the toxins.  The ginger provides the heat in releasing it while the lavender eases the body. 

This month, February, just in time for "Heart's Day," Burke Williams is offering a special discount on the Detox Enhancement.

A 50 minutes session is $99 (regular price $130) while a 80 minutes session is $139 (regular price $180).

In San Francisco, the 50-minutes session is $119 instead of $155.  For a 80-minutes session, it's $159; and in San Jose, a 50-minutes session is $109 instead of $139. A 80-minutes session is $149. 

  http://www.burkewilliamsspa.com/featured-special-valentines-day/

If the both of you want to relax and detoxify together, Burke Williams is offering a Valentine's Couples Gift Package special.  In Los Angeles, their Santa Monica location is the only one with a couple's retreat-massage room where the couple can enjoy and experience massage therapy by two therapists simultaneously.  What an healthy way to bond.  "For Two," each of you will enjoy a luxurious 80-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement or Spa Style Facial with peel. Just $279 (regularly $360), $309 in San Franscisco (regularly $410), $289 in San Jose (regularly $378).

On the other hand, if the Mission Viejo and West Hollywood locations are in your vicinity, you can treat your significant other to a Salt or Sugar Glo addition to Burke Williams' basic massage treatments of a Pure Relaxation massage or a Spa Style facial.  

Valentine’s Day Gift Card Packages usually consists of adding on a choice of : aromatherapy, hot stones, the Burke Williams Experience, detox, a peel or brightener or/and a Spa Pedicure.  The gift packages come in three different categories.  The already mentioned, "For Two" couple's massage therapy session then "Romance" gift package and "True Love" gift package.

The "Romance" Package is a Spa Pedicure with your choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement or you either pick a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel. Just $149 (regularly $180), $159 in San Franscisco (regularly $205), $149 in San Jose (regularly $189).

"True Love" Package is a Spa Pedicure with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage included with enhancement and a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel. Just $249 (regularly $310), $279 in San Franscisco (regularly $360), $249 in San Jose (regularly $328).

Whether you're part of a couple or a singleton who needs to retreat from the outside world, most Burke Williams Spa have a sauna to purify your sinuses and skin, a steam room to make you believe you're in Sochi, Russia right now for the 2014 Winter Olympics, and whirlpool bath where you can soak it in like ancient Roman; and these are considered basics to any Burke Williams Spa.

Nothing says "love" more than taking care of someone else or one's self.

 

 

Fresh's Alina Roytberg, The Indiana Jones of Skincare. She has something "Fresh" for Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

By  Laura Medina

In honor of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the dehydrating and cold climate that comes along with Winter, Fresh's Alina Roytberg has what ails you from down-home (Russian-style) family recipes that become a skincare empire, Fresh.

Dr. Oz has it wrong when it comes to time-honored family skincare recipes...

“I do say we have so much many recipes from the Ukraine.  The one thing where we started was both Lev and I, obviously I’m from Ukraine, he’s from Russia, they were the same thing back in those days…both our grandmothers use sugar to put skin cuts and scrapes because sugar is an humectant.  It retains moisture.  Actually, a great healer.  That’s where it came out, we started wondering why it’s a great healer then we start looking into that.  We start the brand.  We launched all the Sugar products. That’s what put Fresh on the map in a whole degree.   You know, we all started to look at other influences and other remedies from other cultures with the same passion, you know.”

Alina said their Fresh skincare products deliver a singular experience, indulgent as they are results-driven...quick.

That being said and knowing the living conditions of the Olympians living at the dorms, they could sure use some tender, loving, care from Fresh.

When amenities are elemental, such as at the Olympic Village, Alina said the Soy Face Cleanser not only feels good, it is good because of the anti-oxidant flavonoids. They are so beneficial for your system.  We want to put those things in our products, gentle things in our products.  Soy Face Cleanser is our Number One product worldwide.  It was launched in 1999 and it’s still an amazing favorite.  

Making it's debut last month in January, Alina has traveled far and wide for her latest release, the Black Tea Collection.

When Alina and her husband, Lev, are interested in something, they delve deep into it; and that's how a new collection gets started...

"You know, the Black Tea Collection was started in the early 2000s.  We were starting to work on anti-aging products because we were getting older, you know.  We need that too.”

"Don’t you know Black tea was popular in Russia before it became known in Western Europe because it takes 6 months to ship it from Mongolia to Russia, to the Russian Tsar.  6 months caravan to get there.  Tsar, at first, didn’t know why the Mongolians sent him a bunch of dried leaves then they figured it out.  For awhile tea was very expensive, until the railroads were invented, of course.   Black Tea is Russia’s national beverage.  People drink Black Tea all the time.  I mean morning, night, everything.  They also drink vodka but Black Tea is really an essential part of recipe for everything.  I think, you know, you grew up looking at that.  It wasn’t until we tried kombucha, fermented tea that is not well-known in China.  Actually, started in Russia and India.  We actually developed an ingredient from the Black Tea ferment.  That has an extra boost of anti-oxidant that is actually in our Black Tea Face Cream.  You know, we just went to Jiangnan Region region in China in November of last year where they grow tea.   We’ve been to China but to a very different region where they grow the tea.  We went to Jiangnan, where they grow the tea.  The tea fields where they grow Dragon Well Tea.  You heard of Dragon Well?  It’s one of the best green tea in the world.  That’s the region from where it comes from.  So, we went to the tea fields.   We did the tea ceremony.  It’s amazing.“    

"This is the reason why we went to China, to find out how the tea is really fixed and where it comes from.  It’s a really innovative product we’re doing, launching in January. For the eyes, Black Tea Concentrate for the Eyes.  Extra push, we created a new complex.  New Black Tea Complex, that we have nothing the ferment but also the Black Tea Leaf,  blackberry leaf extract really great for smoothing , and lychee seed extract is proven to inhibit damaging free radicals and improve skin elasticity; and we have an ingredient that is not used anywhere else, have you heard of Noni fruit? Noni Fruit juice is known to retain and increase moisture, improving the appearance of the skin.  Noni Fruit for that extra boost of anti-oxidiants and immunity."  

This scribe can attest to the luxurious yet so non-greasy Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask.

More cream than mask, it sinks right into the skin, leaving a matte but moist appearance, not one oily residue in sight.  Ideal for high-performance sports in a Russian winter, say the Sochi Olympics right now.

For the very emerging Olympians, like 15 years-old figure skater Julia Lipnitskaia, Alina said for those just starting their skincare, she recommends the new Lotus Youth Preserve Radiance Lotion...

"When you’re younger, starting on your skincare and you need introductory, we have introductory products in our line, especially for the new Lotus Youth Preserve Radiance Lotion.  It’s the first-ever 7 Complex.  Actually, very preventative, extra hydration, this is the first you do when you start to grow up and you feel like you want to take care of it.  At $32, it’s not gonna break the bank.“

For the more mature, established customer, Alina recommend something more "couture,"..

 “CRÈME ANCIENNE is “couture” because it’s all Meadowfoam seed oil, no water, made in a monastery.  Really, the product drives the price. That is everything that every product in Fresh is based on.” 

 

Alina's Makeup Formula=Sugar Lip Treatment Advanced Therapy + Cherry Sugar Lip Treatment + Sugar Lip Berry Treatment.

For the most elemental for both female and male, chapped lips, Alina always puts on SUGAR LIP TREATMENT ADVANCED THERAPY as her base.

Then for the females, Alina offers her own makeup tips...

"I wear Passion Sugar Tinted Lip Balm.  I always start with Advanced Lip Therapy to make sure my lip lines don’t get older.  First, you use Advanced Lip Therapy then you use the Color.  I use Passion for the red.  I love Petal when I want to do more nude.  I love the Plum sometimes for a little more drama.  Then, of course, there’s the new Cherry which I mix with Berry, Cherry and Berry."  

Alina calls her sugar-based lip balms as "treatments," going beyond superficial appearances...

“The whole idea behind the Sugar Line from the idea of slightly amplifying the nude shades of real girls’ lips.  So, it depends on the impression.  So, the problem for you is that this isn’t your real lip color…I have two daughters.   While growing up, before putting on lipstick, we use these colors to emphasize the real colors of the lips.  So, the Sugar Treatment Lips really follow that.  Remember, the texture is a really soft balm formula.  So, I really can’t use no more than 20% pigment in the formula.  So, you know , when you look at the stick, you can tell that when you put it, it’s really sheer.  That’s how it always pay off.  So, the treatment is the priority then you have a little bit of the tint.  I think it’s really easy to put on.  You can put it on without looking in the mirror.  I like mixing it, creating different shades with different things.  Like this Plum,  everyday it becomes your nude.  Say, you dress up and you want to have a sexy, night one, you mix with a little bit of Sugar Berry with the Plum and it gives you a little richer, a little sexier, a little cooler evening shade. ”   

“It took us almost two years to launch the Sugar Treatment line because we’re really concerned about the product.  How we’re gonna to sell a $22 lip balm? But, we decided that it is the best thing there is, really beautiful texture and package but very functional, amazing flavor, we gotta do it. I think now, it’s our ambassador.” 

For the women Olympians who needs an extra pick-me-up while packing light, Alina said there's nothing in using the tinted Sugar Lip Treatment Balms as moisturizing cheek tints...

“There’s no way why you can’t.  I mean a little bit.  Obviously, we don’t necessarily sell it as a cheek tint but the fact is…why  not?!  Obviously, you understand it is an oil balm with very little pigment. Obviously, you may want to use something with a denser pigment but you know you’re putting moisturization and color on your cheeks, why not?”

Down-home Russian family skincare recipes honed into high-performance, luxury skincare passed down from a globe-trotting Russian mom who searches all four corners of the globe for the best, can't think of a better way to survive the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.