Metal water bottles might be more p.c. than plastic, but sometimes they can impart an unpleasant aftertaste. Bkr is a new half-liter glass bottle safely wrapped in a silicone sleeve. Its five chic shades are just the beginning of its thoughtful design: It’s got a smaller mouth for smoother sips and a cap that untwists in fewer than two turns, something you’ll appreciate more in the middle of Spin class (mybkr.com; $28).

Illustrations by Bella Foster

Kris Jenner, momager of bride-to-be Kim Kardashian, went under the knife in front of their entire E! audience (would you expect anything less?) for a “mini face lift” as part of her preparation for Kim’s August 20th nuptials. Inspired Mrs. Jenner’s pre-wedding nip-tuck, we turned to some leading plastic surgeons to see what tweaks are popular for today’s bridal parties.

Dr. Nathan Newmann, Beverly Hills, CA
“The Stem Cell Lift is ideal for brides-to-be and their moms because it is a scar free, knife-free procedure performed under local anesthesia and the results are natural,” says Newmann. During the procedure, the patient’s own fat is harvested, and using a patent-pending process, the number of stem cells are doubled or tripled before the fat is repositioned back in the face. “Brides are ready for their big day in just four weeks from the procedure. They look better but not ‘done.’”

Dr. Davis B. Nguyen, Beverly Hills, CA
“No mom wants a ‘turkey’ neck in the wedding photos, so naturally, face lifts are the first choice for moms. A good time to do this is six months before the wedding to ensure ample time for healing,” says Nguyen. “One of the most popular and common procedures for brides is the Endoscopic brow lift. The endoscopic approach, combined with fibrin glue, eliminates scars and results in faster healing—reduced from three weeks to three days. Most importantly, the results are extremely natural.”

“In terms of non-invasive procedures, brides and their moms dread sunken eyes with dark circles, so almost all of my bridal patients, both brides-to-be and moms, see me for under-eye-filler (Restylane and Juvederm) one month before the wedding.”

Dr. Rebecca Giles, Malibu, CA
“For brides, it really depends on how many months we have before the big day,” says Giles. “If we have a lot of time, I like to map out a plan with several different aspects, laser, injectables, facials…As for quick-fixes, the hyaluronan fillers are great. Two weeks before the wedding it’s pretty safe to inject them. And if the bride isn’t happy with the results, these fillers are easily removed with hyaluronidase. Botox is trickier. I would never recommend trying injectables for the first time so close to a major event where photographs will be taken.”

“Mothers of the bride tend to go for more aggressive procedures if they are months out from the wedding: think laser resurfacing—either ablative or not. They also like fillers and Botox, too.”

“My best advice is to embark on a treatment plan early—go for a consultation right after getting engaged. I have no scientific basis for saying this, but a relaxed patient heals faster and better than an anxious one, in my experience.”

Dr. Norman Leaf, Beverly Hills, CA
“There are two new procedures that seem to be tailor-made for pre-nuptial touch-ups,” says Leaf. “The new Ulthera machine treatment, an ultra-sound treatment that tightens skin and deeper tissues without surgery, lasers or acids. It’s particularly useful for the jowls and the neck, but the forehead area can be substantially improved as well. There is virtually no downtime and the collagen that’s created by the treatment gives a secondary boost six months after treatment.”

“[The other procedure is] our proprietary Intensive Vita-Infusion Facial. This consists of an hour-long facial…and a unique other modality: while you are relaxing and having your face pampered, your entire body is being nourished and strengthened by an intravenous infusion of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients administered by one of our registered nurses. You emerge with renewed energy, boosted immune system, and a glowing face.”

Photo: Ben Hassett/Trunkarchive.com

After a summer of punchy Popsicle brights and cool blue polishes, make way for a new season’s more sophisticated shades—darker shimmers and muted tones including gray, moss, deep gold, and other harbingers of fall.

Above, clockwise from top left: 1. Chanel Quartz, chanel.com; $25. 2. Dolce & Gabbana Chocolate, saks.com; $20. 3. Orly Sea Gurl, orlybeauty.com; $7.50. 4. Chanel Peridot, chanel.com; $25. 5. Butter London Wallis, butterlondon.com; $14. 6. OPI Uh-Oh Roll Down the Window, at Ulta; $8.50.

Photo by Hannah Whitaker

Fitist is a new service (launched in New York earlier this year and opening in Los Angeles next month) that curates a mix of classes to help you reach your fitness and wellness goals. Pick the right plan for you—they include Rookie, Slim, Intense, and the yoga-only Body & Soul—then reap the benefits of access to the best classes in the city across a variety of disciplines (core, cycle, Pilates, and yoga are just a few), without the hassle of multiple memberships (fitist.com; monthly costs range from $150, if you’re just getting started, to $760, for access to everything).

Illustration by Bella Foster

Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush gathers together soft, cushiony synthetic bristles and cuts them to a slanted edge to better meet the contours of the face. The result: a flawless application with any foundation, from liquid to powder, and one more testament to the virtues of Japanese precision (saks.com; $30).

“The brush is supercompact, lightweight, and easy to use,” says Dick Page, Shiseido Makeup’s artistic director. “I also use it to apply cream blush.”

Photo by Stuart Tyson

I’ve never been good with haircuts that have graduated lengths. In high school, my wedge never feathered the way Dorothy Hammill’s did. Rather, the various-sized layers conspired to form one fat strip that bent mid-strand, then stuck out on the side of my head. I looked like an eagle (Trust me. I have photos). More than 20 years passed before I let anyone layer me again.

In the early 2000s, a Princess-Di style came with copious amounts of layers. Unfortunately, said layers had a reunion and basically did the same thing they did the first time. So, I've basically resigned to being blunt-cutted ever since. However, earlier this week I came to discover that my hair can handle layering; it just needs to be cut correctly.

Larkworthy

When I sat down at the chair of my long-time hairstylist Valery Joseph, I found that I had no choice in whether I wanted to discover this to be true or not. “We need a change,” he said, when our eyes met in his mirror. “Either we do something different, or we’re breaking up.” Uh...snap? He was right, though. So, next thing I knew, my head was upside down and he was slashing all this under-hair (what would you call it?) away with a razor. “It’s a technique I’ve been working on,” Val explained. “It gives a lightness to the hair, and you can part it anywhere you want.” He was right. I could. And my hair does feel lighter. Now, if only Val’s technique worked on thighs.

Today the FDA approved Xeomin, the latest addition to the botulinum toxin-sphere that already holds Botox and Dysport, for cosmetic usage. Will it revolutionize the way wrinkles are frozen? “Time will only tell,” says Manhattan-based dermatologist, Patricia Wexler, who has used Botox for over 20-years. “As of now, Botox lasts up to three or four months. If Xeomin lasts longer up to six-months and meets all safety standards, then it’s a home run.” The main factor that currently separates Xeomin from its competitors is that its formulation is devoid of certain proteins which require refrigeration. As Wexler succinctly puts it, “I don’t have to pack it in a cooler when I go to the Hamptons.”

Photo: Fairchild Archive

A rose is a rose, but don’t tell that to Lynn Emmolo and Sandy Cataldo. Their fragrance line offers 12 unique takes on the flower. The first three—primrose and peony-tinged Iced White; berry, neroli, and wood-accented Gold Rush; and Shakespeare in Love, with jasmine, gardenia, and pear—launch this month (at Neiman Marcus; $95).

Photo by Hannah Whitaker

What does the color blue smell like? According to Giorgio Armani, its olfactory equivalent is a blend of chocolate, incense, and iris. Armani/Privé La Femme Bleue, the designer’s latest fragrance, was inspired by his spring-summer 2011 collection, which was dominated by a slew of navy dresses. Only 1,000 bottles will be sold, each for $600. Does that qualify as demi-couture? (at select Giorgio Armani boutiques and Bergdorf Goodman, New York)

Illustration by Stina Persson

The FEED Foundation, whose totes help provide meals to 74 of the world’s poorest countries, is teaming up with Clarins to add a cosmetics bag to its inventory. Every purchase of a Clarins FEED 15 pouch—which contains travel-size containers of Clarins body lotion, hand lotion, and lip gloss—will fund 15 meals for the hungry. The goal: one million meals over the next two years (at Nordstrom; $30).

Photo by Hannah Whitaker