Tips for a Healthy Hoo Hoo...(Yup, you read that right)

Healthy Hoo Hoo Cleanser
$12.99

When I started writing DivaDebbi back in 2008, I wrote a blog I named The Hoo Ha Spa, after reading about a N.Y Times article about an N.Y.C. Dr. who was essentially opening up a spa for the vagina. It surprised and amused me then and still does.

Everyday I receive all kinds of pitches to try all kinds of products.  As you know, I much prefer to only write about products I have tried myself.  When I first received this email, from Healthy Hoo Hoo, my initial reaction was to laugh, remembering my original blog, similarly named.  Then I read about Healthy Hoo Hoo and realized that founder Stacy Lyon was actually cleverly filling a niche. To my own surprise, I asked to sample it!

Here is a bit more about her products and Stacy's sensible tips for maintaining a healthy hoo hoo:


For Stacy Lyon, vaginal hygiene is extremely important and something that should    be paid very close attention to, which is why she created her paraben-free feminine hygienic line, Healthy Hoo Hoo. Free of harsh chemicals and fragrances, healthy hoo hoo’s high standards gave rise to a blend of botanical extracts and ingredients that are pH balanced and provide just the right amount of cleansing with just the right amount of moisturizing.

Stacy’s tips, paired with the use of her Healthy Hoo Hoo foaming cleanser ($13.99), feminine wash ($12.99), and feminine wipes ($4.79 perfect to pack in a gym bag) , will help avoid any unwanted irritation:

• The vulva and vagina should be cleaned with bland bar soap once a day. Perhaps a second swipe if a late day encounter comes about.

• Avoid liquid body wash as these are often irritating to the vulvar area leading to burning or itching. The area does not need to be cleaned after every trip to the bathroom. Over-cleaning actually creates irritation in some women. Avoid all sprays, lotions and deodorants in this area. 

• Avoid baby wipes, feminine hygiene wipes and Cottonelle wipes. These are very irritating to the skin in the vaginal area especially in fair-skinned women. Do not use pads and party-liners on a regular basis to “feel fresh”. Constant use causes skin irritation and prevents the skin from breathing in the area.

• Always wipe from front to back! Mothers please teach your daughters this during potty training. Wiping wrong drags butt bacteria forward and it can get in the wrong spot creating irritation and infection.

• Do not use Vaseline, rubbing alcohol or Neosporin on the skin in the area. These tend to break down the skin. Choose water-based lubricants or silicone-based lubricants. You can use products from your pantry like vegetable oil or olive oil (extra virgin!), which work just as well. 

Healthy Hoo Hoo was designed with the help of a formulation chemist, not to cure, but to simply allow a women’s body to naturally hit the “reset” button. By avoiding over-washing and harsh cleansers, women who have been using healthy hoohoo are reporting improved moisture, comfort and odor conditions.

I was sent the feminine wash and though I have nothing to compare it too, I much prefer it to bar soap and I will absolutely purchase this clean, gentle product on my own.

Healthy Hoo Hoo is available on their website online atDrugstore.com and at fine body care boutiques and spas.

Whoo Hoo for our Hoo Hoo's...

xox,
DD

DivaDebbi's Red Carpet Report Card - Emmy's 2012

OK Darlings, it's time for my recap of what we saw  last night at the Emmy's. Let's just say I think there was a lot to dish about since there were woofer's aplenty.

I would KILL to be a star stylist.  A stylist's sole responsibility is to make sure the dress: fits, flatters, is appropriate, and won't land you on the worst dressed list or as fodder for Joan and company, even when the company sports lilac hair.

If you were expecting to see a sea of Fall colors, you missed the point. Fashion always has to fly forward and for the most part, oxblood is over, even though you haven't worn the first piece you had to have.

Designers showed an abundance of citrus on the runways for Spring/Summer 2013, so what lit up the night was a luscious grove of tangerine, orange and lemon...most of it well done...yes, most.

On the designer front, the Emmy went to Monique Lhullier, who made everyone she dressed look flawless:
The A Team:

Padma Lakshmi in Monique Lhullier- totally gorgeousness!

My personal Fave: The always divine Leslie Mann in Naeem Khan

Ginnefer Goodwin in Monique Lhullier

Emmy Winner Julie Bowen in Monique Lhullier

Emmy winner Julia Louis Dreyfuss in Vera Wang

Maria Menounous in Oliver Tolentino

Allison William in Oscar de la Renta

Adorable Kiernan Shipka in an age appropriate Zac Posen

Sarah Paulson in Reem Acra

Zooey Deschanel in Chanel

S

Morena Baccorain, bombshell beautiful as always in Basil Soda...who???

Kelly Osbourne, from the neck down, in Zac Posen

The C List: Better than usual but...

Tina Fey

Christina Hendricks in an Alabaster Christian Siriano

Amy Poehler

The D for Do-Over List-

ClaireDanes in Lanvin. I worship her but this looks like a discarded banana skin and the color is fighting her tooth and nail...was it not available in navy??? 

Sofia Vergara as Arielle the Little Mermaid. Basta with the bombshell dresses already!

Jessica Pare in a warmed over FLOTUS Innauguration gown  remake, both by Jason Wu

Connie Britton, in Andrew Gn, oompa loompa orange with  misadvised hair

Hayden Panettiere in Marchesa for Charmin 

Nicole Kidman in Antonio Berrati, (thank God she spared us the matching bolero)

Lovely Gretchen Mol, fresh out of the shower

January Jones in Zac Posen.  Suffice to say, sitting was not an option

The EF (for Fugly) List:

Glenn Close- call me

Lena Dunham in Prada. Let's just leave it at "dour"...

Melissa McCarthy- What can I say??? Plenty actually...

Zosia Mamet Spock

Julianne Moore (when life hands you lemons, make lemonade)

Kristen Wiig in a Balenciaga nightie with suede Nine West pumps

Nancy O'Dell, Miss West Virginia

Christine Baranski, usually flawless, wandering into the wrong event (though I will admit to some knee envy)

Elizabeth Moss gone tragically platinum in Dolce and Gabbana as Chaquita Banana

Julianna Margulies in a Giambatistta Valli for K-Mart bedspread

Phoebe Price in an updated Bjork Swan Costume

So there you have it...Who did I miss???  Agree? Disagree?  Agree to Disagree?
Let me know...

xox,
DD

Review: Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation

YSL's Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation
1 oz. $55

Devotees of Le Touche Eclat Concealer, (and they are legion) have long waited for YSL to create a foundation to complement it.

I too was quite smitten with Touche Eclat concealer. It's housed in a sleek gold pen, and with a simple click, the built in brush deposits just the right amount of product. It does a fine job of covering dark circles, diffusing fine lines and subtly highlighting.  I thought it was a Holy Grail product for me, until I noticed that I frequently looked like I had the dreaded "raccoon" eye in photos.

At that time, "Touche" only came in 3 shades. At $40 a pop, I was not going to invest in mixing two shades, so we parted ways. Today, it's available in 12 shades and I am sure that anyone would be able to find their perfect shade, myself included.

All of this brings me to Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation, which was generously sampled for me by Tyshon at Sephora in Greenwich.  I so appreciate that they are always willing to supply samples so you can try product on clean, make up free skin at home. It takes away all of the guess work and in this case, I realized the lighter shade that Tyshon had recommended was indeed the right one for me.

So, did it live up to all the hype???
Not for me.  It is extremely lightweight and provides minimal to no coverage. I'm sure it could be layered, but that is not what I want from a foundation.  It is also infused with a shimmer that when used all over creates more wattage than what I think most women want.

I did sample a deeper shade, that I am using over my Garnier Beauty Balm cream. When used in the same places you would apply bronzer, forehead, nose, chin and cheeks, it looks luminous and lovely.  Would I purchase it for this purpose?

No.

Might I revisit Touche concealer, with Tyshon's eye?

Yes.

xox,
DD

Update: Great news from Gray Away

Single can at retail $9.99 via the Internet, 2 for $19.99

Choose your shade; mine is Medium Brown

My post about Gray Away, a remarkable product, that sprays gray away in an instant, has received thousands of views and many comments.  After many months of purchasing a much pricier competitor at Sephora, and running through a can with half the product in a matter of weeks, I searched the Internet for an alternative.

I found it in Gray Away, which is superior on all counts; price, consistency, staying power and size.

In the past, this product was only available via their website and required getting two cans (for the price of one) plus shipping and handling...until now!
I received an email from Victory P.R. who represents Gray Away recently.  So what's the great news???  Gray Away is now available at retail and you can purchase a single can for $9.99.

Gray Away is available at Rite Aid, Bed Bath & Beyond, CVS, Walgreens, Sears, Dollar General, Boscov and Fred Meyer. *Please note: Only the only the Medium Brown to Dark Blonde and Black to Medium Brown are available in store.

I much prefer the convenience of paying for it as I need it and being able to pick it up along with my Q-tips and Advil.

 If you haven't pulled the trigger on buying this amazing product, now is a perfect time to try it.  It's just the thing to immediately revive faded color around the hairline and stretch the time between coloring's without breakthrough or embarrassment.

And you are most welcome...

xox,
DD

Accessories Before the Fact

Oscar de la Renta Sable poncho available at Richards

Sometimes, after several season of building a stable of timesless classics, it can be time to take a breather from clothing and focus on notching things up with spectacular accessories, that will be worn often and will get many future wears.

This month WAG Magazine, asked me to weigh in on how to update a wardrobe with well chosen accessories. Here is my article from September's issue:

How to class up an outfit? Choose a great accessory
People always ask me how I resist the temptations that abound at Richards, working as the store’s personal shopper.

What I have learned is to make thoughtful purchases instead of impulsive ones. Like most women, I reorganize my closets twice a year. I won’t pretend I don’t dread it, but I won’t make a single new purchase until I have decided what I’m keeping and what I am giving away. (Glam Media published my biannual closet cleaning tips this past spring at http://divadebbi.blogspot.com/2012/04/divadebbis-suggestion-for-closet.html.) I strongly suggest you follow suit.

Once you have taken fresh stock of your wardrobe, you will be in a better position to see where the holes are. If you are aware of upcoming events, you can also prepare to make purchases for them if necessary. Frequently, my clients email me their event schedules, so I can keep my eyes open for clothes and accessories that will suit their needs. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of adding an Oscar de la Renta fur shrug, a great pair of Jimmy Choos, a new evening bag or a Loro Piana shawl.

In years prior, when the economy slowed down, lipstick sales would spike. Nowadays, accessories’ sales do. According to a recent article in The New York Times Style section (“Accessories Are Hot for Retailers and Fashion Students,” Aug. 9), some women are choosing to invest in new accessories to punch up head-to-toe black outfits and previous purchases, in the hopes no one will notice their recycled ready-to-wear.

I can’t say it’s not a viable plan.

A beautifully crafted accessory is often the thing others notice first. Certain pieces, like Monica Rich Kosann’s charm bracelets, are often conversation starters.

As Monica herself told me, “My charm bracelets were inspired by Jackie Kennedy Onassis and the Duchess of Windsor. My vision was to take this classic bracelet and recreate it with a modern approach. Each charm is incredibly personal, so no two bracelets are ever the same. That’s my definition of bespoke luxury”.

In addition to her well-known “image cases” for photos, Monica’s charms include continents, planets, stars, hearts, clovers, animals, sayings and sentiments.

“In essence, (a charm bracelet) tells the story of a woman’s life”.

I quite love this. This is an investment accessory that can be worn with pleasure every day, with everything from jeans to a ball skirt. It’s also something that isn’t finite. New charms are often purchased as gifts to commemorate births, trips and other milestones of a life well-lived, in progress.

Another must-have accessory for many women is a new handbag. Carrying one is a personal luxury that will add panache to anything you are wearing and an investment that pays off every day that you carry it.

If I am deciding between a dress and a bag, the bag will usually win. It’s not that I won’t enjoy the dress (often for years to come). But in terms of wear, it will just be one of many things that may get rotated in once every two months. By comparison, I may use the bag every day for a full season.

Some handbag seasons are better than others. A few years back, bags were heavily ornamented with hardware. It was an acquired taste that also required good biceps. This fall, bags are whistle-clean. I will have a hard time deciding between gorgeous offerings from YSL, Chloe, Loro Piana, Reed Krakoff, Valentino, Tods and Akris.

Whatever you choose to add – a bracelet, belt, cashmere cape, fur shrug, boots, tri-tone suede platforms or a new handbag – make sure you select things that coordinate with existing favorites. Care for them well, and they will be yours to enjoy not just this season but in the years ahead.

Carmen the Divine at Chado Ralph Rucci- Spring 2013

Carmen the Divine at Chado Ralph Rucci- Spring 2013 by divadebbi 

The always divine and truly ageless, 81 year old Carmen Dell 'Oreficewas at the Chado Ralph Rucci show, Sunday night at MBFW at Lincoln Center.

Naturally there was pandemonium, (particularly since she took to the catwalk twice this week).   Carmen's star and luminous beauty has never faded and everyone came over to pay homage to her in her perennial front row perch.

In June, Jeffry Aronsson, who runs the consulting and brand management firm The Aronsson Group,  joined the company as CEO.His lovely wife Wendy, is a long time client and friend.  She teased me that fabulous things were in the hopper, knowing I am a die hard Rucci fan, but kept mum until the formal announcement. 

This is great news for Ralph Rucci, who's company never suffered from lack of his creative talents, but will only benefit from Aronsson's much acclaimed business acumen.  With long stints as CEO of Emanuel Ungaro,  Donna Karan International, Marc Jacobs International and Oscar de la Renta, Aronsson knows what it takes to balance beautiful fashion with the realities of the marketplace.

In my judgement, no one in the United States creates clothing as spectacularly designed or tailored as Ralph Rucci  The prohibitive prices, however, have kept it in the hands of just a few luxury retailers, here and abroad. It would be my dream to be able to sell it to my clients atRichards.

With Aronsson in place as CEO, and Rucci designing, Chado Ralph Rucci will not just be appreciated, but worn by stylish and chic women, the world over.

In addition to the exits I used in my Polyvore Set, take a look at these other confections from Rucci's Spring 2013 show:

Ralph Rucci - Spring 2013

Ralph Rucci - Spring 2013

Here's to Ralph's genius--and Jeffry's.  The world awaits...

xox,
DD

La Belle de Jour

La Belle du Jour by divadebbi 

I adore old movies, and  recently saw Belle de Jour again, starringCatherine Deneuve in a film directed by Luis Bunuel (1967).

The theme of the film quite shocked me when I was younger.  Catherine, a beautiful but bored housewife, plays Severine, a woman who does notspend her well heeled afternoons playing bridge, if you catch my drift.

Another joy of this particular film, were the costumes.  All were designed for Deneuve by Yves St. Laurent.  As the film evolves, we see Severine change from a very proper lady, to someone with slightly more exotic taste.

Belle de Jour was the start of a life long friendship between the two, with YSL designing countless ensembles for Deneuve, until his death.

Catherine Deneuve in Luis Bunel's Belle de Jour
1967

I certainly still had Severine on my mind when I created this Polyvore set.

It is lovely to have my creative pistons firing all the time.  No one could ever accuse me of being a bored housewife...

xox,
DD