Things to love about New York: Lafco NY

So there are a slew of stores that sell beauty wares in Manhattan. From Ricky's to PIR, Sephora, the old-school chemists (like the one on Lex and 84th or the original C.O. Bigelow's on 7th Avenue) to SpaceNK and all of the stand-alone beauty boutiques. Most of them are amazing if you're a beauty junkie. However, we don't think there are many for the luxury and beauty junkie out there.

Those obsessed with quality (not quantity), niche products (we mean really niche. They carry online 9 brands) should go to Lafco New York on Lafayette Street (or the one on Melrose Place in L.A.). They do Claus Porto, Santa Maria Novella, Eau d'Italie, Trilogy, Linari, Lorenzo Villoresi, Sapone per Cucina and House and Home Candle Collection. Now we haven't had the longest time to browse around yet, but so far our favourite products are:

1. SMN Idrasol Body Cream

2. Claus Porto Banho Citrus Verbena Soap with Shea Butter

3. Trilogy 100% Pure Organic Rosehip Oil

4. Lorenzo Villoresi Alamut

5. House and Home Duchess Peony and Fresh Cut Gardenia Candles

Of course, we will be back there later this week, pouring over every single item on offer. As a parting comment, the lovely team at Lafco NY put me onto Sniffapalooza. If you like fragrance, check it out.

Beauty Brands: Young and Pure to launch next week

The second natural range for teenage skin to launch this year hits the shelves of Whole Foods Market next week. Young and Pure is a natural range for teenage skin (read: acne, oily and combo complexions). Face Boutique launched in the Greene Street SpaceNK in NYC last month and will make its way to the UK soon.

We think it's the way forward with teen skincare. When we were whippersnappers the only things to help us get through the dark days of red, inflamed skin were harsh, medicinal astringents (chock full of alcohol, which is the devil), drying lotions, oil-free face lotion (which is silly. You need oil on your skin. Duh. Like Dr. Hauschka's Normalizing Day Oil) and blemish zapping makeup... all of which just made our skin drier, more acne-prone and redder.