Month: March 2014

My favorite Boston beauty boutiques

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As some of you may know, one of my favorite ways of discovering a city and its surroundings is through its beauty boutiques. Not that long ago, I wrote about my favorite New York City beauty boutiques.

And not that long ago, I was in Boston, rediscovering the first American city I ever fell in love with (when I was 6 years old – the reason why I came back for college). Here are my favorite Boston beauty boutiques.

A Matter of Face (425 Hanover Street)

While the North End might be better known for its Italian pastry shops, cafes, and restaurants, the neighborhood would not be the same without this intimate boutique owned by the ever-smiling Paula. Stop in for a makeover in between your latte and dinner reservation.

B Boutique (558 Adams Street, Milton)

Known first and foremost for her classy, always-perfect wedding makeup, this boutique is a treasure trove for niche brands. I go there for Becca eye pencils and  to get my eyebrows waxes by the beautiful, blonde, and leggy owner, Danielle.

Beauty & Main (locations in Wellesley and Hingham)

I started shopping at Beauty & Main in college, at their Cambridge Square location. While that store is no more, I continue to go to the Wellesley and Hingham  locations for my makeup go-tos: Trish McEvoy mascara and Laura Mercier tinter moisturizer. And yes, if you need to, you can pick up some Alchimie Forever there also. I love the neighborhood boutique feel, the amazing service, and the fun events.

Beauty Cafe (515 Main Street, Melrose)

Whether you go to see Karen, the owner, to ask for skin care advice or to pick up a gorgeous piece of cocktail jewelry for yourself or as a gift, or stop by to see Heather for one of her fabulous facials – you will leave happy and smiling – and with glowing skin.

Bella Sante (various locations)

Whenever I have some time in between meetings, I head to the Newbury Street location for a manicure, pedicure, or if I am really lucky, both. There is a reason why this spa is repeatedly voted top pedicure spa in Boston. Don’t take my word for it… go try it for yourself.

The Beauty Mark (33 Charles Street)

Located near landmark Charles street institutions such as The Hungry I and Linens on the Hill, this tiny jewel of a boutique is packed with the best makeup brands. Stop in for a lipstick, and leave with fuller eyelashes. Indeed, Amy is the eyelash queen, known for eyelash extensions and refills. Her newest brainchild is Townhouse Beauty Bar, right across the street, where stylists will make your hair look as good as your eyelashes.

And should you decide that you need something a little bit more medical than the expert advice of any of these owners, and their amazing products, head to The Newbury Center (69 Newbury Street, make sure to meet the beautiful Nicole, wife of plastic surgeon Dr. Ramsey Alsarraf), or Boston Dermatology & Laser Center (30 Lancaster Street, Ste. 400).

How to tell you are in Geneva…

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There are many reasons I love coming back to Geneva, where I just spent three days. Family. Friends. And the inescapable feeling of being home. Still, even though it has been almost 20 years since I left.

I was struck during this visit by all of the things that make Geneva, Geneva… Perhaps not even the things, but the subtleties, the behaviors. Here’s how to tell you are in Geneva.

1. Everyone still wears a watch. Usually a very nice watch. Which means no one is constantly looking at their phones to figure out the time.

2. Everyone and everything is on time. All the time. Perhaps this is related to wearing a watch.

3. Geneva is a walking city. The alternative is to take the bus (manufactured by Mecedes-Benz, always clean and on time) or the Tram. If you must drive, you can always take out your Ferrari or Aston Martin. I rarely see as many fancy cars as I do here… (perhaps I need to go to Monaco).

4. You run into three people you know, on average, during a 5 block walk. Geneva is small, very small…

5. Everyone is well dressed, elegant, and thin. Perhaps it is because they know they might run into their former beau at any time (refer to point 4 above).

6. And everyone’s hair is always perfectly done. According to my BFF Erin who pointed this fact out to me earlier today, this is even more the case here than New York (she has lived both in the Big Apple and in Geneva).

7. While all black is known as New York women’s preferred wardrobe, women here wear a lot of brown on brown (during the colder months) and beige on beige (when the weather is warmer). This is somehow more conservative, more understated, yet more regal than black on black.

8. Lunches (including during the week) typically involve either a glass of champagne or wine. This is considered normal and lovely.

9. People do not walk and sip coffee at the same time. I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen someone sipping anything from a travel mug or go cup.

Geneva, I love you… Don’t ever change!

BeautyView: Tracy Brennan, Co-Founder and President, Kalologie

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The first time I met Tracy Brennan, Co-Founder and President of Kalologie, was because I cold-called so that she might look at Alchimie Forever for her spa. (I have to admit a number of my relationships have started that way…). While our business partnership was not meant to be (at least not yet), as she developed her own line of products, we have stayed in touch throughout the years and watched our respective businesses grow. From a single location opened in 2004, she now has many in the California area, a partnership with a resort spa in Vegas, and has a complete line of skin care products.

AP: What city were you born in? TB: West Hills, CA, just outside of LA.

AP: What city to do you live in? TB: Phoenix, AZ. Once we went down the path with the franchise system, being in a state that is franchise-friendly made a lot of sense.

AP: What is your middle name? TB: Lauren.

AP: What is your astrological sign? TB: Libra. Libras get along so well with other libras…

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? TB: I am painfully shy at times.

AP: What is your most prized possession? TB: I don’t know if you can call your children possessions, but if so, they definitely are. My two boys (Grant is 14 and Blake is 13) are such a blessing to me every day.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? TB: Diana Vreelad. I loved having a glimpse into her life in “The Eye Has to Travel.” It would definitely be an interesting evening!

AP: Describe your fashion style in three words maximum. TB: Classic with an edge.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? TB: I do. My husband gave me a Cartier tank watch in stainless steel for my 30th birthday – he put it under my pillow. I remember I thought he had forgotten about my birthday… Until the end of the day when I got into bed.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? TB: Diamonds!

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? TB: Sunscreen.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? TB: I wear Le Labo Bergamot #22.

AP: Botox or not? TB: Yes, of course!

AP: Hair color: natural or not? TB: Not… Not anymore.

AP: What are your special diet tips, if any? TB: If I have to hunker down, I just go low carbs for a few days.

AP: What do you do for exercise? TB: I love yoga and I also have been doing the Focus T 25. It is great for working moms, even we have 25 minutes…

AP: What are three things that you always have in your fridge? TB: Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and wine.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? TB: Hanger 1 Mandarin Vodka with freshly squeezed grapefruit, on the rocks.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? TB: Compartmentalizing. I try to get the things I need to get done from a work perspective done, and then put work aside during family time. I have learned to turn it off.

AP: How many miles do you fly per year on average? TB: I am not a huge flyer…

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? TB: 1. Hydration – I always travel with our Rewind peptide serum. 2. I always have saline spray to clean out my nasal passages in case I come into contact with sick travelers. 3. I limit alcohol and drink more water.   

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. TB: 1. Pharrel Williams “Happy” – how can you not smile when you hear this? 2. Prince “D.M.S.R.” – reminds me of my husband Bill – we’ve been together 21 years! 3. Joy Division “Love Will Tear Us Apart” – a classic.

AP: What book are you reading right now? TB: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. I am really enjoying it.

AP: Quote to live by. TB: “If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?” by T. S. Eliot.

AP: What is your worst pet peeve? TB: I have so many! The one that gets me the most is perhaps how people complain about how busy they are all the time. I wish we could all stop the glorification of busy. Busy is not equal to important.

AP: What time do you usually wake up in the morning, and how many hours of sleep do you usually get? TB: I am a good sleeper. I wake up at 6:30 am to get the kids out of the house for school. I usually go to bed at 10:30 pm. I need my 8 hours…

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? TB: I love so many aspects of it. Our industry has such a positive impact on people… We make people feel good.

AP: Least favorite thing. TB: Feeling like I have to always look good and put together!

AP: Who is your mentor? TB: There are a number of people that I look up to in the industry… But I have never really had a mentor.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. TB: This sounds so simple – but nothing replaces a good work ethic. I find that is lacking a lot of times today… When I started in this business, I worked such long hours and was willing to do anything it took. There is no substitute to hard work. If you are dreaming of it, be willing to work for it.