BEAUTY

Smooth Sailing

New scents and body toners foretell a delightful spring and summer.


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Fountain of Youth Lancôme formulated its Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate to boost the creation of what it calls “youth proteins,” which help prevent skin from looking dull. A salicylic ceramide works with Bio-Lysat, a probiotic extract, to bolster skin-cell adhesion and keep texture soft. The Lancôme lab coats also believe that the formula can enable moisturizers (and not just theirs) to work more efficiently. $78; at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Hot Bod Body-refining line Rodial is taking its firming prowess out into the sun. Its Skinny Beach collection includes an herbal supplement to help promote pigment darkening. There are also two SPF 15 sunscreens containing caffeine and spirulina for tightening: One is sheer (shown); the other is tinted bronze, perfect for an instant glow. $49; beauty.com

Eau, Narciso With sunny Brazil among Narciso Rodriguez’s favorite places, it’s understandable that the designer wanted his new fragrance, Essence, to evoke lounging poolside under a beating sun. The musk-based scent mixes iris, rose and amber for a sexy floral that manages to be both light and warm. $100; at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Even Kiehl’s Given Kiehl’s earth-friendly reputation, it was only natural that the company’s first mascara would be paraben-free. Marvelous Mineral Mascara substitutes the controversial preservative with gum from the Acacia senegal tree, jojoba oil and aloe vera to condition lashes; the dark shading comes from mineral pigments. $16.50; at Kiehl’s and kiehls.com

Take a Diptyque Though every item in Diptyque’s new Art of Body Care line is scented differently, all five are Mediterranean influenced. Our favorite: Precious Oils, a moisturizing oil infused with the alluring sweet iris. $38 to $90; at Saks Fifth Avenue.

King Khol With its ribbon-tail top and exotic graphics, Guerlain Kajal Mineral Khol Eyeliner resembles a tiny fez. The large bullet of color inside will keep lids smoldering for ages. $35; at Neiman Marcus.

Garden Variety A floral pattern designed by Gucci in 1966 for the late Princess Grace has been unearthed from the archives for spring. The wildflower print will appear on several pieces and is the inspiration behind the brand’s newest perfume. Flora by Gucci smells first of rose, osmanthus and peony, but the addition of a strong sandalwood and patchouli base gives it a heady, sexy edge. $90; at Neiman Marcus.

Astor la Vista Hard-core New Yorkers could argue that a fragrance named Astor Place should smell like an NYU dorm. But Bond No. 9 chose a less literal, more floral route for its interpretation. The ladylike blend of violet leaf, red poppy buds and freesia suggests a very civilized spring break. $220; bondno9.com

Filling In An arsenal of line-fighting weapons—including the antioxidant hesperidin methyl chalcone, glycolic acid and five different peptides—is packed into Dr. Perricone Neuropeptide Deep Wrinkle Serum, yet the golden-hued formula feels weightless on skin. $180; on QVC.

Quiet on the Set Now that setting hair is back in style, so is hairspray. Umi Fix nonaerosol holding spray keeps a new ’do firmly in place with no sticky residue, and it has a subtle floral scent, to boot. $22.50; umisite.com

Fabric Softener Giorgio Armani Beauty’s latest foundation, Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF 20, gets its name from the addition of fine silk fiber that slips beautifully over skin. Micronized pigments and optical-effects particles further enhance the nongreasy medium-coverage formula. $58; at Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus.

Big Apple Clark’s Botanicals Cellular Lifting Serum fends off impending wrinkles and diminishes existing ones, thanks in large part to the stem cells of the Uttwiler Spätlauber apple, which thrives in the harsh climes of the Swiss Alps. The recipe also includes ginseng, to ease facial muscle contraction, and gotu kola extract, to boost collagen production. $355; at Saks Fifth Avenue and clarksbotanicals.com