When you have the chance to spend an afternoon with a Victoria’s Secret model, you take it. So, this week I dined at Cibo Matto in The Wit hotel with VS Angel Lindsay Ellingson (documented in the pic below), who was in town for the launch of the brand’s new “Gorgeous” push-up bra. Lindsay is not only stunning, she’s so normal, down-to-earth and easy to talk to. When asked what she does to get her perfect body in shape for the VS fashion show, which happens to be one of the most electric, entertaining spectacles I’ve ever attended, I may have given her a dirty look.
“My biggest issue is that I’m too skinny, so I have to drink lots of protein shakes to get ready for it,” she said. I wanted to call her a biatch in that moment, but the girl is so damn nice, she is yet another example of how Beauty Doesn’t Have to be a Bitch. All I could do was smile, swallow my thoughts and empathize with her inability to grow a muffin top.
During our date, Lindsay introduced me to the newest VS fragrance suite called Attractions. The four body mists, which can be layered, have very different scent profiles. Sweet Craving is like inhaling a bowl of vanilla creme brulee, Wild One is slighlty floral, Glam Goddess smells fresh and clean, and Love Bitten is woodsy with a hint of apple.
But it’s not the aromas that are memorable. They’re made with a secret cocktail of notes referred to as EverTempt, which is supposed to have pheremone-like powers. Apparently, the perfumers at Victoria’s Secret tested hundreds of scent combinations until they found the one blend that lured in men time and time again. So, the next time you’re on the prowl, perhaps you should give yourself a mist. This just may turn out to be your lucky juice.
Here’s a scent to know about. And I’m not saying this just because it has a huge celebrity following (Demi Moore, Mila Kunis and Hayden Panettiere all own fragrances from the line) or because it’s really affordable. A 3.8 oz full-size bottle is $35 and the travel size (shown below), which I prefer because it has a no-spill roller ball applicator, is only $12.
Eau De Nous isn’t over-thought or forced. It’s a series of simple, lovely aromas made by two sisters, Daya and Vally Fernandez, who created a series of scents reminiscent of their childhood. There are 4 in all: Gardenian Gift, which has notes of jasmine, orange and cloves; Bebe Breeze, a mix of rich floral tones like roses and lilies; Citrus Charm, a blend of mandarin and grapefruit essences; and Jasmine Joy, a marriage of honeysuckle, sandalwood and jasmine oil.
The perfumes are really wearable and casual enough for everyday. For summer I’m into Gardenian Gift. It’s quiet, floral, and fresh – just what summer should be.
P.S. Click here to contact the company for a free sample! 
Michael Kors Very Hollywood Eau De Parfum Rollerball/Lipgloss Duo
I recently returned from my nostalgic camp reunion in Maine. The minute I stepped foot on the playground of my youth, it all came back. The smells of campfire, the woods, the grassy fields…all of these amazing scents were just as I remembered them. They made me feel like I was 12 all over again and didn’t have a care in the world. 
With the memory of my incredible visit still fresh on my mind, this week’s giveaway honors the power of fragrance. Tocca is a brand that masters scent like no other, so I’m offering four people the chance to win their favorite candle from Tocca’s new fall Candela collection. The new aromas are elegant, romantic and unique. Brigitte: Inspired by sexy screen siren Brigitte Bardot, the candle has the spiciness of ginger combined with the sweetness of rhubarb and papaya. Giulietta: A soft, warming scent of fully bloomed pink tulips and sweet green apple create.Bianca: With notes of green tea, lemon and a dash of sugar, the candle releases the aroma of an Italian seaside.Colette: Notes of warm incense, musky vanilla and amber create a sultry mood. To enter to win this giveaway, tell me which candle you fancy most by commenting on the post, follow me on twitter (twitter.com/NPTheBeautyGirl) and RT this message. 
Could we have been looking in all the wrong places this whole time for the fountain of youth? I always imagined it to be hiding in a mystical forest, wrapped in vines, waiting for an adventurer to uncover a magical, iridescent pool. Don’t mean to burst your bubble, but recent studies reveal a much less romantic reality — youth is chillin’ in a bucket o’ apples. Yup. Scientists researched Swiss apples to find out why they last longer than other varieties and have the ability to heal themselves. The answer was in their stem cells. Now beauty companies are using these stem cells to create anti-aging formulas that work to prevent wrinkles and protect and regenerate skin cells. Here are some you’ll want to sink your teeth into. 
Julia Roberts is the face behind 
Stella McCartney’s limited-edition fragrance 
During my days in NYC as a staff beauty editor, rubbing elbows with celebrities (think High Tea with SJP to kick off the launch of her scent Lovely, a behind-the-scenes interview with Carmen Electra and a Q&A with Gwen Stefani about her Harajuku Lovers fragrance) was part of the job.
