Mona di Orio Lux

The good news, I guess, is that this review isn't part of my Lost Perfumes series. The bad news is that at the moment the only place you can buy the Mona di Orio line is Les Senteurs in London. At least they sell online and ship worldwide, which is a big comfort since I'm kicking myself for not buying a backup bottle of Lux.

There's nothing in the list of notes that prepares you for this scent. We've all been through a citrus opening or two and experienced an amber-wood-vanilla drydown before. Sniffing the bottle or spraying a paper strip will not teach you much, either. Like all of Mona di Orio's creations, Lux must be experienced on skin, where it comes alive within seconds. From the luminous lemon top to the rich and dirty vanilla-benzoin, this perfume has a full, sensual body. It's beautiful and feels perfectly put together with just a hint of dirty touch underneath it all.

While Mona di Orio has dedicated Lux to the memory of her mentor, the great Edmond Roundnitska, my own perception links it to very vintage Guerlain: think of an older, more animalic Jicky without the lavender. Last weekend I had a chance to sniff a bottle of Shalimar circa 1940. The juice was in great condition, and even some of the top could be detected. While Lux is a very modern scent, I feel it shares the aesthetics and the "what is perfume" sensibility of yore.

Mona di Orio perfumes (£85.00 for 50 ml) can be purchased from Les Senteurs in the UK, online and in store. I bought my bottle when it was still available at Bergdorf Goodman.

photo of actress Romy Schneider, 1960, from myvintagevogue.com

Something Blue: Lancome Ink Artliner Indigo Charm

Gel eyeliners are a fabulous thing: easy to apply, pretty and (when done well) have a superb staying power. It's no surprise that Lancome have finally launched their version, Ink Artliner. After all, they couldn't leave the market to Bobbi Brown. And in a smart move, they've stepped into the competition while making a loud statement: Indigo Charm for fall 2009 Declaring Indigo collection.

The bright blue trend isn't new. We've seen nail polish in every possible shade and the blue eye shadow has made a strong comeback. While just about everyone has a blue eyeliner, Lancome's Indigo is impossible to ignore. Not that anyone should- the Ink artliner is an excellent eyeliner and it gives Bobbi Brown a run for her money. It's just as good as her Long Wear Gel on all accounts: ease of use, integrity of texture and lasting power. Actually, I think it lasts even longer than Bobbi's without losing any bit of color, and it requires a heavy duty eye makeup remover to take it all off after wearing the liner from morning to night in the current NYC weather.

Indigo Charm is a beautiful color. What you see in the jar is what you get on your lid. It makes a statement and is super flattering for brown eyes. It makes them stand out beautifully. While the Declaring Indigo collection also has high voltage blue eye shadows, my personal choice is to keep things simple and wear neutral colors with it: taupe for day, bronze for night.

Bottom line: Love.

Lancome Ink Artliner ($23.50) is available from every decent department store and lancome.com. I bought it at my local Saks.

photos: mine

Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Bodyskin Cream

My poor limbs! This summer has been short and plagued with crazy weather, which means I didn't get the short reprieve from slathering my legs with heavy-duty body creams and oils. The press sample of Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Bodyskin Cream I received was a welcome addition to my goop rotation. My skin on my legs and arms is very dry and extremely sensitive. When I call it Cuir de Crocodile I'm not being funny. I'm being truthful (and desperate).

Hydra-Therapy Bodyskin Cream performs well so far. It's as fast absorbing as it can get and leaves no filmy residue that could make crossing one's legs a sticky situation. The cream feels great and leaves the skin soft and supple for 6-8 hours. I also like the way it feels on my hand after application.

What I don't get is a long-term effect, which makes me suspect Hydra-Therapy Bodyskin Cream might not become my winter staple. But for now it is a very good product and normal people who are not related to lizards would probably find it very effective year-round.

Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Bodyskin Cream ($60 for 8 oz) is available from Nordstro, Neiman Marcus, Dillard's and ernolaszlo.com. My sample was a PR freebie.