LuxNotes

Origins Incredible Spreadable Scrub

A product that performs several seemingly contradictory tasks is a wonder.  Add in a rhyming, alliterative name and we're sold on Origins' Incredible Spreadable Scrub.  It sloughs away dead skin cells, restores brightness AND moisturizes and softens.

New Shop in NYC

Emerge NYC, below (in a New York Times photo), is said to be a new concept in department store shopping.  Each brand is the focus of a booth or display case.  The catch is that these aren't established brands, and instead are the creations of emerging designers.  Nothing has been mass-produced (designers are sometimes working away on-site) and apparel, accessories, art, cosmetics, flowers and limited-edition books are included in the offerings.

Caswell-Massey's Skincare Branches Out

The 250-year-old beauty brand Caswell-Massey is launching two new lines, one targeted at babies and the other at baby boomers.  Baby Shea is said to meet consumer demand for high-quality skin care for babies and features twelve products made with 100 percent pure shea.  The Olive Oil and Orange Blossom collection is supposed to be "spa-like".  Also expect modernized packaging and a new focus on market positioning from the company.

Skincare Line

The skincare line developed by Sabena Toor, M.D. is attracting devotees who who buy into Toor's philosophy of combining Western, Chinese and Ayurvedic practices.  She addresses beauty both internally and externally with ingredients like vitamins C and E, green tea, peptides and acids to moisturize the skin, minimize fine lines, lighten undereye circles and increase glow.

"microdermabrasion in a jar"

Facial scrubs are all over the place right now, and maybe for good reason.  Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion in a Jar is said to "immediately give your skin a fresh, healthy, younger-looking glow" with its refining skin-beautifying botanicals, hydrating honey and magnesium oxide crystals. "These crystals, once only available in professional services, visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles, improve the appearance of scars and help to clear acne prone skin."  Worth a try, no?

YogaForce Mat

The thick mat from YogaForce is wider on one end to keep your shoulders on it and has bright lines on one side for better alignment in various positions.  With stylish fabric trim and a carrying strap with a coin purse attached, if yoga is your thing this should be, too.

JAR scents

You won't be dodging spritzes of Joel Rosenthal's scents in department store cosmetics departments.  Although the fragrances have been sold only in the JAR boutique in Paris since 2000 and are now coming stateside, they'll be in Bergdorf's basement-level beauty department.  Diamond Water, Jardenia and five other scents are displayed before walls of mauve velvet.

Toothpaste & Water Kit

Breath Palette is a Japanese brand with flavors like Lavender, Cola and Fresh Yogurt for toothpaste and mouthwash that come in small tubes and cups.  Perfect for travel, or just long days away from your medicine cabinet.  At Zitomer and Nordstrom.

La Mer for Skin to-go

Any product by La Mer is a treat, but the Lambertson Truex for La Mer collection, below, goes to a new level.  The buttery-soft leather bag is filled with seven of La Mer's best and at Neiman's and Saks.

Lux-like: Boules Quies

When it comes to keeping water out of your ears while swimming or noise at bay during air travel, Forbes magazine appreciates Boules Quies earplugs made of natural wax and you will too.