Miller Harris Terre de Bois

Terre de Bois by Miller Harris must be one of the most harmless vetiver scents I know. It's not bitter or dirty, it doesn't sting or bite and it's served under an easy to swallow citrusy top note. The opening is probably the most aggressive part of the scent, though, because once the more herbal parts fade away, we are left with a soft woody scent, faded greens and a feeling of an overcast day.

Even the vetiver is soft here, thus it makes for a kinder, gentler morning scent. It's doesn't push me to get in gear and start moving. Instead, I feel like drinking my tea while sitting by the glass doors watching the squirrels chase each other all over the naked trees. This softness is what probably makes Terre de Bois a gateway to vetiver scents, especially for women who find most of the genre's classics too masculine. It's perfectly unisex and my only two complaints about this Miller Harris creation is that it's a bit too inoffensive and doesn't last as long as I'd like. I never get more than three hours out of it, even when I spray liberally, and the perfume's quiet nature can sometimes feel too bland.

Miller Harris Terre de Bois EDT ($110, 3.4 oz) is available from Luckyscent, Saks and Bloomingdale's. BeautyHabit also carries it and I just saw today that Terre de Bois and a handful of other scents are on sale there. It can also be found for less than retail price at a handful of online discounters (Google is your friend), and The Perfumed Court sells samples.

Photo by Declan McCullagh.

Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Cream

It's the time of the year the skin on my body and I become estranged and try to crawl out of each other. It ain't pretty. I fight the good fight. I take my vitamins, slather, grease, beg and plead, and for the most part manage to avoid turning into a creepy crawler, but it takes work and products, and come January and February I turn to the big guns. I've already tried some of the most amazing products on the market, those priced in the three digit range and they really work (they'd better). I was considering buying a jar or two when I decided to give Lancome a chance and ordered their Nutrix Royal Body Cream. I can't help it- I hear something contains royal jelly and I must try it. Not sure where this fixation came from.

My one and only issue with Lancome body products has always been the scent. They smell synthetic and fruity, and Nutrix Royal Body Cream isn't different in that regard, though by the time I get dressed it's mostly gone. The important part, though, is performance. Nutrix Royal delivers like a cream that costs three times as much and continuous use has lingering effect. I haven't touched any other body cream in more than three weeks and haven't seen that ugly dry earth pattern on my legs since then.

Bottom line: I don't know if its the royal jelly, but this cream is made of awesome.

Lancôme Nutrix Royal Body Cream ($34) is available from Lancome counters everywhere and the company's website. I ordered it online.

Photo: images.com

Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick (Madaket)

The last year or so has been a red lipstick lover's dream. So many reds in fabulous textures and finishes and there's a good red for everyone. My latest crush is Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick (that's a mouthful) in Madaket. Just look at the photos- the color is so beautiful I want it in shoes, jewelry and a few home decor items (red is my favorite color, after all).

Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick has an interesting and unusual texture. It creates a thin velvety layer and a very smooth satin finish. It's not balmy in any way, and at least as far as Madaket goes, the effect is almost matte but not quite. The color in the tube is what you see on your lips. There's definitely a lip stain effect that remains there for several hours and never bleeds. While I don't feel any added moisture from using this lipstick, it doesn't dry or parch my lips at all. The lipstick doesn't flake or crumble into dry particles and wearing it is very comfortable. I even braved it in yesterday's weather. It was terribly cold and dry walking around the city, but my lips stayed pretty. And very very red.

Since Madaket is a dark red, all the usual recommendations for red lipsticks apply here: exfoliate, make sure your lips are soft and in good condition, use a lip liner and consider applying with a brush.

Bottom line: Excellent quality, tons of sex appeal.

Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Moisture Stain Lipstick ($32) is available from Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus as well as Liberty, London. I bought it at my local Neiman.

All photos by me and I get very cranky when they are taken without my permission. Seriously.