Eau de Espana
The latest beauty souvenir to hit shelves in Spainare is a duo of a perfumes, commissioned and developed by the Centro de Revalorizacio de Marcas Espanolas - a body that works to promote Spanish manufacturing and design. Eau de España comes in two versions, one for chicas and one for chicos. The scents are a fusion of Iberian aromas - lemon and jasmine for the girls and the sea and citrus fruits for the guys. The cute boxes were designed by Elena Sancho of Tatabi Studios and depict either a dancing senorita in a traditional red flamenco dress, or stately señor in a blue toreros outfit. Taking inspiration from various local sources, such as early 1930's Spanish typography and the native el Clavel (carnations) of Spain, the designs rework old iconography to represent the essence of Spain.
€17 for a 50ml bottle; www.eaudeespana.com
Words: Romy van den Broeke
Intraceuticals Rejuvenate+ Boosters
Skincare pioneers, Intraceuticals, know a thing or two about the art of good skin - a dedicated research and development company, they produce premium skin products designed to really work. Their latest creations, the Rejuvenate+ Boosters, are a set of four serums tailored to relieve specific skin problems. There's the antioxidant booster that illuminates and refreshes dull, tired skin; a collagen booster that reinserts a little elasticity to gravity-worn skin; and a vitamin A booster working to calm sensitive skin. Then there's the vitamin C+3 booster, which is full of protective and strengthening qualities to work against the effects of harsh weather. The packaging is clean, colour coded and direct.
www.intraceuticals.com
Neon Lip backstage at Missoni SS13 show
Taking a lead from the make up application at Missoni's S/S 2013 show, those in the know will be working the colour-pop shade of matte neon matte on lips this summer. Celebrated make-up artist Lucia Peroni created the look at Missoni using MAC Pro products, initially mixing fuchsia, orange and white Lipmix to form a vivid coral, then blending the Pro Electric Pigment powder over the top to seal the lips with the essential fluorescent matte finish. Although nothing looks quite as good as the real McCoy, we've hunted down a couple of lipstick alternatives that do the job well; Chanel's La Favourite from the Rouge Allure Velvet collection and Shu Uemura Bright Orange shade from the Rouge Unlimited range.
Lipmix, £13 a bottle; Pro Electric Pigment Powder, £16.50; www.maccosmetics.com
Chanel Creme Pour le Corps
Chanel's luxurious new Creme Pour Le Corps body cream, which falls under the umbrella of Les Exclusifs de Chanel - a group of thirteen exquisite fragrances - has a purpose like none of its predecessors or contemporaries. Developed by Chanel's perfumer, Jacques Polge, together with director of research and development Christopher Sheldrake, it has been tailored-made to lock any fragrances sprayed on to the skin following its use and to enhance the scents. Encased in a frosted glass pot, the delicately whipped body cream hydrates skin, leaving it feeling soft to the touch.
£75 for 150g; www.chanel.com
Imperial Barber Products
Having accrued 26 years in the industry between them, LA barbers Pedro Zermeno, Scott Serrata and Bryan Fisher felt well-placed to put their well-coiffed heads together and launch their own hair-care range. Called Imperial Barber Products, the concoctions - which range from pomade to pre-shave oil - are of a professional grade, while their pots are designed the way they imagine US government-issued military grooming products would look, if there were such a thing.
www.imperialbarberproducts.com
Grace Belgravia, London, UK
Though we love the aesthetics, the idea of men-only clubs has never sat so well with us - but that's probably just because women, for generations, have had little or no equivalent. Times are changing and, although fraternities still very much exist, the past few years have seen a sprinkling of women-only organisations popping-up. Enter Grace Belgravia, a health club with a twist. The brainchild of businesswoman Kate Percival, the exclusive centre takes a holistic approach to women's health and recreation by integrating all elements of wellbeing. At once a spa, a bar, a health-centre, gym, café, library and retail spot, the leather-dotted interior is largely designed by Percival herself.
Geared round women of all ages, the club aims to offer respite from punishing work and care-giving schedules and offer support through key life stages; including fertility, pregnancy, child-rearing, empty nesting, menopause and old age. Every new member is given complimentary assessments from all the resident experts and suggestions are made as to how best they can use the club. Be your needs medicinal, nutritional, fertility-related, sleep-science, genomics or stress advice there's an in-house army of health professionals to help; Matt Roberts (Samantha Cameron's personal trainer) and his team for example are on hand to create a tailor-made exercise regime or the Queen's Apothecary and pioneer of women's health, Dr Tim Evans.
The in-house bar serves juices and, thankfully, alcoholic drinks, whilst the restaurant serves raw food, from cerviche to broths - opening up for men (as invited guests only) on Tuesday evenings. There are even lectures to attend, covering culture and art, current affairs and other relevant topics. A VIP membership with Net-A-Porter is also thrown into the £5,500 annual membership fee. All in all, Grace is something like a dash of Daylesford, a pinch of KX gyms, a dollop of the Hale Clinic and a soupcon of the Connaught bar shaken together to promote contented minds, bodies and souls - it's a unique cocktail.
11c West Halkin Street, London SW1X 8JL, T: 44. 207 235 89 00; www.gracebelgravia.com
Grace Belgravia
Though we love the aesthetics, the idea of men-only clubs has never sat so well with us - but that's probably just because women, for generations, have had little or no equivalent. Times are changing and, although fraternities still very much exist, the past few years have seen a sprinkling of women-only organisations popping-up. Enter Grace Belgravia, a health club with a twist. The brainchild of businesswoman Kate Percival, the exclusive centre takes a holistic approach to women's health and recreation by integrating all elements of wellbeing. At once a spa, a bar, a health-centre, gym, café, library and retail spot, the leather-dotted interior is largely designed by Percival herself.
Geared round women of all ages, the club aims to offer respite from punishing work and care-giving schedules and offer support through key life stages; including fertility, pregnancy, child-rearing, empty nesting, menopause and old age. Every new member is given complimentary assessments from all the resident experts and suggestions are made as to how best they can use the club. Be your needs medicinal, nutritional, fertility-related, sleep-science, genomics or stress advice there's an in-house army of health professionals to help; Matt Roberts (Samantha Cameron's personal trainer) and his team for example are on hand to create a tailor-made exercise regime or the Queen's Apothecary and pioneer of women's health, Dr Tim Evans.
The in-house bar serves juices and, thankfully, alcoholic drinks, whilst the restaurant serves raw food, from cerviche to broths - opening up for men (as invited guests only) on Tuesday evenings. There are even lectures to attend, covering culture and art, current affairs and other relevant topics. A VIP membership with Net-A-Porter is also thrown into the £5,500 annual membership fee. All in all, Grace is something like a dash of Daylesford, a pinch of KX gyms, a dollop of the Hale Clinic and a soupcon of the Connaught bar shaken together to promote contented minds, bodies and souls - a unique cocktail.
11c West Halkin Street, London SW1X 8JL, T: 44. 207 235 89 00; www.gracebelgravia.com
-
A new Oxford Street pop-up celebrates IKEA's blue bagsIKEA's iconic blue bag gets its own pop-up concept store, the 'Hus of Frakta'.
-
Audemars Piguet and Kaws have created the Royal Oak Concept watch we didn't know we neededThe Audemars Piguet x Kaws Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon 'Companion' is slick wrist-worn art
-
A friendly rivalry coloured by kinship: Wendy Maruyama and Tom Loeser on their two-artist show'I wanted to make furniture, just not traditional furniture, but weird furniture,' says Wendy Maruyama on ‘Colorama’, a two-artist show presented at design gallery Superhouse (until 11 January 2025)
