Scent of the Tropics

With the first official day of summer come and gone, I find myself reaching for scents that evoke the tropics. The smell of the salty sea, the taste of sweet coconut, and fragrant tiare flowers are just a few senses that, for me, evoke the type of daydream that we can find ourselves slipping into from time to time. 

Because the tropics are such a huge inspiration for me, I've found that these types of scents have become my signature in a way. While I do wear other types of floral scents, I'm still drawn back to the soft and sensuous smell of a humid day in the tropics. At the moment these are all of the tropical scents that I own, but I'm excited to add more (hopefully, soon) from Coqui Coqui and Monoi Tiare Tahiti.

The necklace shown is beautifully handmade in Indonesia and utilizes local materials.

"It's on days like these--

when the sun is hot,

and the air is sweet.

when the palm trees dance

and the sand beneath my fingertips

is cool to the touch."

Maison Martin Margiela's Replica: Beach Walk and Urban Outfitters' Lait De Coco

Nars' monoi body glow

Handmade necklace by M0MITA

What destination/place inspires your favorite scents?

x Yzabelle

Winter Skin Woes

Winter here in NYC has been a warm with 60-50 degree days and 40-degree nights. Despite it not being super chilly, the fluctuations in weather still has me reaching for a skin pick-me-up. To pamper my skin during this winter season I bought Tatcha's classic rice enzyme powder. Having followed them for a while and admired the packaging and products, I finally caved in on the travel size version. The enzyme powder can be used both as a cleanser and exfoliator and it makes your skin feel oh, so buttery soft. 

I purchased this at Sephora, but you can also purchase this on their website.

x Yzabelle

Island Beauty

Nars Monoi de Tahiti oil, Josie Maran hair mist, Desert Essence Coconut hair lotion

Nars Body Glow II, Josie Maran Coconut Water cheek Gelee, coconut hair lotion

Alba Organics Hawaiian moisturizer

             Coconut watercolor cheek gelee in poppy paradise.

What do you think of when you think of balmy nights, bright and sunny days, doing things simply? Things such as these remind me of Summer and island life. With Summer being my favorite season and my lust for tropical locales, I love that my beauty products help evoke the mood . It's one way to channel the warm weather, especially with the harsh Winter in New York. As I write this I'm daydreaming about lazy days on the beach.

Products:

1. Nars Monoi Body Glow II ( here, here ): I received this as a present from my brother for Christmas. I've wanted it for a while, and I love the variety of things I can use it for. What you see in the bottle is the monoi de tahiti, or the tahitian gardenia. The oil itself is coconut oil. I love using it in place of my body lotion as well as on my hair. It smells amazing and I feel like a tropical goddess when I put it in, the smell is beautiful and intoxicating. If you get the chance to visit French Polynesia, there are various monoi beauty products. But make sure it has stamp of authenticity on the back, this proves that it's real monoi de tahiti and coconut oil.

2. Josie Maran Bohemian Waves Argan Mist ( here ): This gives you those mermaid waves you get from being at the beach all day, but what I like is that my hair remains soft. It not only contains various oils to help nourish your hair, but the sea salt as well. 

3. Desert Essence Coconut Shine and Refine Hair Lotion ( here ): If I don't put the monoi oil in my hair I use this instead. This one is definitely for coconut lovers with coconut oil being the first ingredient. 

4. Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee ( here, here  ): This is my second one, the first one being Berry Bliss. Poppy Paradise is one of the limited edition colors (from what I remember) so I'll be a little sad when I run out. But like the monoi oil, I love the versatility. It can be used on your cheeks as a stain and on your lips as well for a light flush of color. You can control the intensity, with it being as light or intense as you want. I love the natural ingredients; the first ingredient is coconut water!

5. Alba Botanica Hawaiian moisturizer ( here ): I use this as my daytime moisturizer before putting on my sunscreen. It smells like the islands, with a coconut-y and pineapple-like smell. It's a moisturizer that reminds me of a variety of tropical fruit.

What do you nourish your skin and hair with? I'd love to know! 

And as always, thanks for reading xo

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