Jane’s Addiction: Talk About the Passion
Would you pay $100 for toothpaste? Theodent 300 is a new dentifrice that, instead of fluoride, uses a cocoa- bean-derived active ingredient called Rennou to stimulate the growth of tooth enamel. I’ve been using the stuff for only two weeks, but I’m already more confident biting into a piece of hard candy ($100, theodent.com). (There’s also “classic” Theodent, with a lower-strength dose of Rennou, which costs a much more reasonable $10.)
My competitive spirit was alive and literally kicking during my family’s recent weeklong stay at fitness retreat Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico (rancholapuerta.com). Team Jane— I secretly referred to our clan this way—dominated in the water polo tournament, and I felt a bit longer and leaner thanks to Pilates classes led by our guest instructor, San Francisco–based Amber Zuckswert, and to the Spanx Power Pant ($118, spanx.com), into which I stuffed my lower half (above). My lucky stepdaughter tested out a new pair of Vibram FiveFingers KomodoSport LS shoes (above, right, $110, vibramfivefingers.com), taking them running, hiking, even dancing, with such enthusiasm that I began to wonder whether she’s part platypus. And I got to check out the Nike + FuelBand ($149, nike.com), which converts activity into points that count toward a daily goal that you preset. The device definitely pushed me to make it through the seven- mile morning hikes and back-to-back yoga, boot camp, and Pilates classes to reach my goal. Too bad it didn’t give points for sleep.
I used to be proud of my toned upper arms, but a couple of years sans bicep curls have allowed them to become downright flabby. I’ve found hope with Nip + Fab Upper Arm Fix, a light sculpting gel that dries quickly and provides a little extra firming. ($13, Target, 800.440.0680)
I’m really into three new beauty products—each has an addictive whipped texture. Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Matte Lip Color ($24, bobbibrowncosmetics.com) feels soft and nondrying on the lips and stays on for a long time. (My favorite shade is Latte.) Giorgio Armani’s Lip Maestro (wand and swatch above, left, $32, giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com) is shinier and comes in a nonsticky gloss—as if a moisturizing lipstick had been thrown into a blender with lip gloss and a mousse dessert. W’s Art Director, Anna Davidson-Evans, wears the Hollywood shade quite well on her perfect lips (above, which I shot with Hipstamatic’s W40 Pak lens). Lastly, L’Oréal Paris’s Magic Smooth Soufflé Blush ($13, lorealparis.com) is like a hybrid of cream and powder blush, with an airy texture that’s easy to blend. I wear the pale apricot-like Celestial.
Talking fragrance for hours is, in fact, my idea of a lovely afternoon, so I was thrilled by my recent chance to hawk bottles of Bond No. 9 for the first annual Look Good Feel Better Beauty Editors Day at Saks (left, lookgoodfeelbetter.org). Look Good Feel Better, if you don’t know it, is a great charity that helps women with cancer bolster their confidence and self-esteem. Bond has more than 50 scents—I had to keep a cheat sheet in my pocket, but by the time customer number three showed up, I was connecting it all in a smooth narrative. The top seller was the breezy Sag Harbor, but now that it’s turned chilly, New York Musk is a bit more fitting, with surprising additions of grapefruit and peach ($330, bondno9.com). Other interesting fruity-warm blends: Demeter Sugar Plum (plum mixed with honey; $20, demeterfragrance.com); Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay (blackberry with vetiver and cedarwood; $60, jomalone.com); Clive Christian “V” for Women (peach with sandalwood; $405, bergdorfgoodman.com); and Odin New York 09 Posala (peach with bourbon and amber; $165, odinedt.com).
James Kaliardos (above) is one of my favorite makeup artists—he’s been the go-to guy at Rodarte shows for years. This winter he’s into brown eye colors with red or coppery undertones “inspired by Serge Lutens and early- eighties Ralph Lauren.” He prefers the nonmetallic look, but I like a little shimmer with my coppers, reds, and browns. Chanel Harmonie du Soir Quadra Eye Shadow (right, $65, chanel.com) fits the bill.
Whenever I get a facial from Tammy Fender (left), I find myself playing my own little game of guess the scent. Everything she uses smells so fresh and intoxicating—from rosemary-based exfoliants and chamomile toners to eucalyptus-infused wet towels—that it makes for one big joyous inhalation-fest. Now she’s got me constantly smelling my hair with her new Omega Rich Hair Moisturizer, scented with sublime ylang-ylang. The West Palm Beach–based Fender claims that the conditioner’s repairing ingredients—including rosemary, camellia seed oil, and balsam peru—diminish gray and help your hair to grow back in its natural color ($55, tammyfender.com).