Beauty's Fashion? Fair Trade Alpaca Hoodie from Mayu

Ok girls, I know, we have to talk. I have been dropping hints like Diddy drops other peoples albums. But it's time to give you the real deal. I'm headed to New York for the Spring Ready to Wear collections. My goal is to interview makeup artists (Nanette Lapore and Tommy Hilfiger lead artist interviews are booked!) and bring back the best hints, tips, and trends. I also have meet and greets with a million and two major beauty brands. I promise to not let you down and bring back the most powerful products promenading down the cosmetic department aisles. We will have lots and lots to talk about over the next few weeks. But here is the thing, I've been bitten. The beauty doctors say I'll live - it's just the fashion bug ;)

So forgive me if I start posting fashion tidbits here and there. Fall is coming and I am in fact a woman so I can't tell if this fashion fever will pass or if it is the ordinary fall pinning for sweaters and scarves whose comfort is outdone only by their style. If it doesn't pass there is a fashion blog being conceived and I'll birth it when I settle into my new locale in October. If it is in fact a passing fever, indulge me temporarily.

So onto the fabric in hand. Every fall I begin to swaddle myself in the most fashionable wraps I can find. I may in fact have been an Native American blanket weaver in a past life as the need to wrap and swaddle every fall is a bit beyond my understanding. I favor wraps and shrugs that are suggestive of a weekend in the French country side. Hence my newest product rave. (It was the over sized hood that stole my heart at first sight.)

This hoodie is a must-have accessory! The elegant zig zag stitch looks absolutely beautiful. The perfect color combinations will match anything in your current wardrobe. The over sized hood and two sets of ties in the front make this garmet a detailed investment piece. The back of the shawl falls to about mid-back. Mayu's fairly traded Alpaca Wool Accessories are all hand made by women in Peru.

Retail Price: $179.00. http://www.shopmayu.com/.

Kiehl's is doing some amazing new things and wants to tell Beauty's Spot readers all about it!

Kiehl’s Since 1851, the venerable New York-based purveyor of fine quality skin and hair care is introducing “superbly restorative” body care preparations made with fairly-traded, organic Moroccan Argan Oil and Argan Leaf Extract. Kiehl’s Superbly Restorative Preparations is a collection of efficacious, sensorial products that help to restore and maintain hydration, elasticity, and smoothness of skin and hair. The argan oil has been responsibly sourced from a fair trade women’s cooperative in Morocco.

The Targanine Cooperative:
A network of Berber women that work to preserve the Argan Forest by planting new trees and harvesting Argan nuts for its edible oil and health-enhancing, restorative properties. The precious oil serves as a source of dependable income and a means of improving their financial independence, access to healthcare, and education. The cooperatives promote literacy and training of women. The Targanine group includes cooperatives for mechanized production, crushing and extracting the Argan Oil and a center in charge of commercialization and quality control. Kiehl’s is proud that by sourcing from the cooperative, it continues the longstanding company mission of supporting communities around the world.

The precious oil is offered exclusively by the community, serving as a source of dependable income and a means of improving their financial independence, access to healthcare, and education.

Kiehl’s is pleased to initially introduce two Argan preparations to the Superbly Restorative Collection – Superbly Restorative Body Lotion and Superbly Restorative Dry Oil. The body lotion is a lightweight, readily-absorbed lotion that helps protect skin’s moisture barrier, restores tonicity, and provides a radiant, healthy-looking skin tone and texture. The multi-purpose dry oil for the face, body and hair protects and smoothes skin, while improving the appearance of skin tone and radiance. When used on hair, the emollient formula helps to smooth split ends and adds a healthy sheen to hair. Both products will also possess an added environmentally friendly benefit with bottles composed of 100% PCR (post consumer recycled) plastic.

Additional Superbly Restorative formulas are planned for introduction in the coming months.