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Friday, April 16, 2010

Ferrari 599 GTO Reportedly Already Sold Out


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Hoping to get your hands on a new Ferrari 599 GTO? Think again, because according to reports, it's already sold out. All 599 examples of it, at nearly half a million dollars apiece.

The new top-of-the-line supercar from Ferrari – the fastest they've ever made – made its first public outing last night at the Ducal Palace military academy in nearby Modena. There it was unveiled to a crowd of 500 customers by the company's top brass, including chairman Luca di Montezemolo, CEO Amedeo Felisa and vice-chairman Pierro Ferrari. The next stop will be its public unveiling at the Beijing auto show later this month.

Tour Munich in Classic BMW Cabriolets


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Planning a trip to Munich any time soon? There are plenty of reasons to stop by the BMW Museum, but now we've got one more for you. Over the course of the Spring, Summer and into the Fall, BMW Classics is offering chauffeured tours of the city in a range of classic convertibles.

The tours take place in such vintage Bimmers as the 30s-era 326 and 335 Cabriolet, 50s-era 502 "Baroque Angel" Cabriolet and the one-of-a-kind 3200 CS Cabriolet. Tours start and end at the BMW Museum, visit various company facilities and stop at historic sites around the city. The price is 90 euros per person.

MM6 Maison Martin Margiela Perforated Leather Hobo, Handbag of the Day


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The MM6 Maison Martin Margiela Perforated Leather Hobo is a bag that functions like an article of clothing.

Due to the shape (the depth of the plunge and the width of the opening, gathered at a small point at the top), when you throw this over your shoulder, it becomes a major part of your outfit, even though on its own, it looks somewhat nondescript.

This soft, perforated white leather bag is 20"W X 12"H X 1"D. Depending upon your style, this could add a hefty helping of 1980s to a bright color or fashion-forward sophistication to a pale metallic. The bag is lined in an attractive beige and includes a snap closure and inside open pocket.

The MM6 Maison Martin Margiela Perforated Leather Hobo is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $495.00.

Local Luxury: Top Luxury Day Spas in San Francisco, CA


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San Francisco has always done things its own way. Whether it was entertainment or politics, San Francisco always puts its own spin on things. The luxury day spas in San Francisco are no different. San Francisco's best luxury day spas are found off the beaten path and not in the ritzy hotels as one would expect.

International Orange Spa
Address: 2044 Fillmore Street, 2nd Floor (Pacific Heights)
Phone: 415-563-5000
Website: www.internationalorange.com
Hours: Monday thru Friday 11-9; Saturday and Sunday 9-7

Established by three Bay Area women, International Orange adds a twist to the archetypal spa. Customers can attend yoga classes before and after massages, facials and other treatments. The trendy spa offers ingenious services, such as rhythmic sequence of acupressure and holistic face lifts. The beautiful decor of milky white walls and cherry wood floors provides a serene ambiance that reinforces International Orange's therapeutic approach.

Kabuki Springs & Spa
Address: 1750 Geary Boulevard (Japantown)
Phone: 415-922-6000
Website: www.kabukisprings.com
Hours: Open Daily From 10am to 9:45pm

Located in San Francisco's vibrant Japantown, this Japanese paradise releases your inner empress through exotic rice exfoliations and massages. Along with a beautiful Japanese communal bath, customers can enjoy private candlelit baths while sipping on tea. Kabuki's focus is on nurturing harmony within the soul and relaxation through water and touch therapy.



Kamalaspa
Address: 240 Stockton Street, 7th Floor (Union Square)
Phone: 415-217-7700
Website: www.kamalaspa.com
Hours: Monday: 10-6; Tuesday thru Sunday: 9-9

Indulge yourself in the luxuries of the Far East at Kamalaspa.This hip spa is a haven for some of the Bay Area's fashion elite. One look at Kamalaspa's lavish decor and stunning views explains why the elite love this spa. Guests enjoy champagne while waiting for treatments and can relax in private steam rooms. This spa even has its own line of all natural Ayurvedic products. Guest enjoy a full range of services such as manicures, pedicures, waxing, massages, facials and body treatments.

Tru Spa
Address: 750 Kearny St., San Francisco CA 94108
Phone: 415-399-9700
Website: www.truspa.com
Hours: Monday, Wednesday thru Friday: 9 to 9; Tuesday: Noon to 9; Saturday: 9 to 8; Sunday: 9:30 to 6

Designed for the busy modern spa customer on the run, the services at Tru Spa are designed for the customer with only an hour or two to spare. Consistently ranked as one of San Francisco's top day spas, the atmosphere at this spa makes it customers feel as though they have escaped to an exotic oasis. One of the favorites at this spa is the Tropical Rainforest Room that provides a warm waterfall shower for pre-beauty treatments. Another popular service is Tru Spa's deep cleaning facials with Crystal Blast. The environmentally conscious customer would be excited to know that Tru Spa donates some of its proceeds to environmental organizations.

ZensAsian
Address: 1311 23rd Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122
Phone: 415-682-8833
Website: www.zensasian.com
Hours: Monday: By appointment; Tuesday-Sunday: 10-8

The first thing that comes to mind about ZensAsian is its intimate, peaceful aura. The cozy home of ZensAsian is decorated in bamboo and silks. ZensAsian is known for its organic Japanese facials and sea mud and water body wraps. The spa imports the mud and water from the Belgium city of Spa. The most alluring thing about ZensAsian is that it is affordable. Services range from $15-$300.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Essential Brow Kit


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Anastasia Soare, the brow specialist in Los Angeles who trims the brows of celebrities like Victoria Beckham, Megan Fox and Catherine Zeta Jones, has put together a Kit for Perfect Brows and Eyes (above) which will be available exclusively at Sephora this May.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Kit for Perfect BrowsThe kit, which I took for a test drive this morning, includes a number of products to make your brows and eyes brighter, and create that "Perfect Triangle" for which Soare is known. The attractive little kit is about 6" x 3" x 1.5" and comes with DVD Instructions to help you achieve your perfect eyebrows.

The products include:
  • Cooling Eye Brightener
  • Mini Lash Lifting Mascara
  • Stencils
  • Brow Powder Duo
  • Precision Tweezers
  • Clear Brow Gel
  • Mattle Camille Highlighter
  • Mini Duo Brush
While you may already have versions of some of these products, it's nice knowing that these are all Anastasia-approved.

If you're like me, and have several pairs of tweezers but only use one, you'll be delighted to find these slant tipped tweezers are both sharp and fine, and with a strong grip. The real gem of the package, though, is the stencil set. Find the stencil that matches your shape and you can be sure you're creating even, well-arched brows that follow the Golden Ratio. The stencils make life easier for anyone who's ever looked at their brows and thought: "Is that even? Is the shape weird? Should I tweeze more there or more there?"

The only thing missing from the kit, it my opinion, is a small pair of scissors for snipping those brow hairs that play a vital role but go a little too far. Beyond that, I found all the products, especially the eye brightener and highlighter, terrific -- and while I'd probably ditch the case and consolidate them into my usual makeup bag, this set makes a great gift and/or kit for when all you know about eyebrows is tweezing or your local salon, and you don't know where to start.

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Kit for Perfect Brows and Eyes will be available exclusively from Sephora stores nationwide May 6, 2010 for $75.00.

$2.7 Million Nautilus VAS, the World's First Luxury Submarine


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Nautilus Submarines & Diving Systems is offering what it calls the world's first luxury submarine, the Nautilus VAS. The retro-futuristic craft with its lines out of a James Bond film features a bathroom, full size stairs (versus a ladder), minibar, digital entertainment system and standing room ceiling height. The Nautilus uses large flat, distortion-free optics which translates into crystal clear vision for passengers of the VAS, whereas most submersibles use curved domes or viewports which distort the natural beauty of the undersea world and can also create a degree of vertigo and/or nausea. The VAS is also the only private submarine offering the option of a Diver Lockout which allows you to exit and re-enter the submersible while underwater. The Mk III version carries five passengers, can do up to 6 knots and is available in lime green.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Right Way to Get Your Beauty Sleep


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Beauty sleep is very real. It's during sleep that skin damage from daily stress and pollution is repaired, dermal layers are rejuvenated, and even facial muscles are relaxed and gravity is shifted so wrinkles become less pronounced. Without enough sleep skin can look sallow and dry with uneven skin tone and more defined wrinkles. Wake up looking your best with these basic tips.

    * Get a head start Make a habit of washing your face and getting the rest of your nighttime beauty routine out of the way well before you're actually ready to go to bed, like a couple of hours ahead of time, so when you're really tired later you won't be tempted to blow it off.
    * Sleep on your back because laying on your side or stomach can literally press wrinkles into your face as you sleep.

    * Consider elevating your head, either on a couple of pillows or by raising the head of the bed by 2-3 inches. This will help prevent fluid from accumulating in the face and encourage lymphatic drainage.
    * Slather on the moisturizer Since there's no makeup to smear or products to block the absorption of key ingredients overnight is the perfect time to apply rich, thick eye and skin moisturizers. You can also moisturize your hair overnight by applying a moisturizing treatment, sleeping with a cap on, and rinsing it out in the AM.
    * Avoid carbs in the evening and wake up with less puffiness and more defined cheekbones. According to one dermatologist foods high on the glycemic index (rice, pasta, potatoes) can leave you waking up with a "soft, doughy appearance."
    * Sleep on a satin pillowcase to reduce frizz and have shinier healthier hair. Satin is smoother than cotton so there's less friction and rubbing on the hair shaft. (It can work for your skin too, but sleeping on your back is better.)