Victorian Romance
Jenny Shircore, a beauty talent who picked up an Oscar in 1998 for her work in Elizabeth, is at it again. This time around, Shircore landed in the Victorian era, working her magic on-set as the designer of hair and makeup for The Young Victoria. "I poured through hundreds of books and visited London's National Portrait Gallery to ensure the designs we created accurately portrayed this well-known time in British history," she says. To that end, Shircore and her team used wigs on most of the principals and lots of hairpieces hidden inside actress Emily Blunt's own hair to take her character from young girl to married woman to more mature. "It was very clean and precise hairdressing," she says. —K.D.
Design a signature scent with one of four new Love, Me SolidPerfume Compacts, which contain three solid perfumes to combine or wear alone. The booklike compacts each have a different inspirational title and story tale, and the fragrances are made with essential oils in a 100-percent natural base that includes beeswax and shea butter. Shown here, the Love, Me in the Garden compact features Earth, with notes of fresh-cut grass; Whisper, a blend of vanilla, musk, neroli and honey; and Sweetness, a combination of honeysuckle, rose and jasmine. lovemescents.com
The Brush Off
New Hairfreé brushes make cleaning up between clients easy, thanks to moveable plates that bring unwanted hair to the end of the bristles. The plates are ceramic-coated to give hair a smoother finish, and when positioned halfway between the top and the base, the plates can also create a vented brush, for faster drying and more versatile styling. Hairfreé brushes come in two styles: round for curls and volume and flat for silky straight locks. hairfree.bz —L.M.
What's Your Sign?
According to designer, mixologist and Intoxicated Zodiac creator Gwen Sutherland Kaiser, "barstrology" is the practice of combining of cocktails and astrology. Try it for yourself with Intoxicated Zodiac's Shot Glass Candle. The soy wax candles come in a reusable shot glass available in 12 zodiac signs, each with a signature scent and cocktail recipe based on medieval herbal astrology, an ancient healing practice using plants, herbs and flowers associated with each sign. No need to limit yourself to just your own sign though, Kaiser says: "You may be drawn to the scent of a sign other than your own, the same way you are drawn to people with signs different than your own." intoxicatedzodiac.com
An Herbal Infusion
Ayala's Herbal Water is a collection of USDA-certified organic flavored water infused with culinary herb combinations hand-picked by creator Ayala Laufer Cahana, M.D., a pediatric physician. Available in Lemongrass Mint Vanilla, Lavender Mint, Lemon Verbena Geranium, Cloves Cardamom Cinnamon, Cinnamon Orange Peel and Ginger Lemon Peel, these calorie-, preservative- and artificial additive-free beverages not only keep the body hydrated, but they also provide the healthful benefits of culinary herbs. herbalwater.com—N.P.
Clever Clay
We love the witty descriptions found on Evo's product packaging, like the Cassius Cushy Mud, which promises to create a "voluptuous but natural finish, giving each individual strand a slice of funk, and your overall look some serious intention." evohairproducts.com
On a Mission
Founded by Andreea Ayers, Tees for Change is a line of sustainable T-shirts made from organic cotton and bamboo and adorned with positive and uplifting messages like "laugh often," "chase dreams" and "choose happiness." These eco-friendly shirts not only encourage the wearer and others to think positively, but they also give back to the earth through the company's "Buy a tee, plant a tree" partnership with Trees for the Future. Giving back never felt so good, especially when wearing one of these soft and comfortable shirts. teesforchange.com
Moisture to Go
The new pocket-sized Shea Butter Balms from Sula can be used wherever skin needs extra moisture, such as the cheeks, lips, neck, hands and feet. The balms—available in Bergamot, Neroli Blossom and Rosa Damascena scents—feature pure, steam-distilled essential oils and are made by hand in small batches. sulabeauty.com
Safe Keeping
The new City Girl Jewelry Keeps from Rowallan of Scotland are the perfect travel accessory for on-the-go glamour girls. Playfully named after the Sex and the City characters—Charlotte (shown here), Miranda and Carrie—the lizard-embossed leather cases come in three colors and have inset mirrors and jewelry organizers. rowallanusa.com
Take a Stand
The newinVigorators Compression Socks from André, a division of Fromm International, are designed to take some of the pressure off—literally—for hard-working stylists who are on their feet all day. The first socks of their kind for the salon industry, inVigorators feature a patented weave and Class 1 Medical Compression to provide increased support and improved circulation, reducing swelling and soreness in the legs and feet. The socks come in 10 sizes to fit individual heights and shoe sizes. frommonline.com
BIG TOP
Ben Moth from Brooks & Brooks in London turns up the volume and broadcasts texture in this take from his latest collection, Ex-Treme, which is punctuated by exaggerated designs and piquant color. Influenced by the fall catwalks, where extreme shoulder pads, hemlines and voluminous shapes reigned supreme, Moth used a pair of tongs to create epic curls and movement in the dramatic, round shape that takes ease to the edge. —K.D.
Path to Success
Lipstick. Laptops. Life. (AuthorHouse, 2009), Angela O'Mara, owner of a public relations firm, recounts her struggles and triumphs as a female entrepreneur who evolved, survived and thrived in a turbulent economy. "I wrote this book to inspire people everywhere to get back in touch with their deepest dreams and desires," O'Mara says. "We all encounter obstacles along the way, but if we want infinite business success, we need to learn to climb the ladder, sometimes more than once." lipsticklaptopslife.com
Perfect Twist
Available in a variety of colors, from neutrals to bright jellies, SwirliDo Hair Ties create a subtle twisting effect when tied in the hair. Whether your hair is wet or dry, these spirals hold on tight, remove gently and never leave indentations. Perfect for retail! facialwork.com
