TRAVEL TALES | May in New York Part II

We left you at The Summit Bar last night, did we? Well... RISE AND SHINE, beautiful! Day 2 of your 48 hours in New York and it's time for a session of energizing yoga at The Standard (a snip at $20). The hotel's just introduced their popular Miami yoga program to the Big Apple so you can practice with expert instructors overlooking the Hudson River. All comers welcome! And you'll need to limber up before the scrum that is the notorious, gilded beauty halls of New York.

The Bs (Henri Bendel, Barney's, Bergdorf Goodman) are like music to beauty-binging ears... Subterranean warrens are packed with the skincare secrets of the ladies who lunch. No beauty pilgrimage to New York would be complete with out wander and a gander at (and maybe take away) Ellis Faas, Tammy Fender, Trish McEvoy, Tracie Martyn, Edward Bess and the limited edition Narciso Rodriguez palette.

And what would a trip to the

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TRAVEL TALES | May in New York Part I

AH... THERE are few things as lovely as Central Park on a sun-dappled spring morning. Joggers prancing by, coffee in hand (mine, not theirs)... It's on days like this that I yearn to live in New York. You too? Yeah, we all do, don't we?

Although, I'm quickly grounded by reality when I see the size of my mates' flats (tinier than London). But, every visit there is brilliant not least of all because of the beauty bounty to be had. Thus, we're giving you our quick and dirty guide to 48 hours of beauty in the Big Apple so that you too, should you be touching down in JFK soon, can experience some of the most amazing treatments and products in the world. Print this little black book of beauty and let the journey begin!

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3floz.com launches site for travel-friendly beauty products

NYLON Magazine put me onto this one... 3floz.com. It's a new website that sells beauty and grooming products in TSA-approved sizes (meaning less than 100ml/3.3oz) so you don't have to worry that a surly airport security guard with make you part with your favourite cream ever again.

3floz.com also seems to be marketing itself as a sample site, with the strapline reading 'For those who travel, those who are curious and those who can't commit'. Great idea. Honestly, the site's like an e-shop for all the little bits you nick from a hotel, BUT instead of it being generic products you don't like, they happen to stock the brands (or will be soon. They have a good mix, although not exhaustive, right now) you like to use. And you can purchase them individually or in kits, which answers all the skeptics out there saying 'why can't I just buy a trial-sized kit from a brand'? Buy Philip B. shampoos and conditioners, Ole Henriksen skincare, Go Smile whitening products and a Dr. Haushcka Daily Body Kit if you fancy it. No need to stick to one brand.

Personally, I'm a bit of a travel beauty DIYer, so would probably use this site to sate my curiosity instead of buying things solely for travel. My DIY tricks? I save empty bottles from hotel products. After washing them out, I peel off the labels and scrub away any residual glue. Then I take my full-sized products of choice and decant them into the various bottles (being as, yes, anal as I am, generally I need identical bottles and, thus, horde ones from the same hotel over and over). Then I use a sharpie to label each bottle. Beautifully simple, organised and chock full of all my favourite products in a size that I can carry onto a plane (I hate checking baggage).

But back to the point... these clever girls have found a gap in the beauty market and seized it, which is great for you beauty philanderers, newbies or too-busy-to-DIY. Check it out now at 3floz.com