For some people, when it comes to hotels, a great bed is priority number one. For me, it’s all about the bathroom.
I was in Paris over the past few days for a little work and play and stayed at Thierry Costes’ lovely boutique hotel, Thoumieux (pronounced “Two-Mew”). The jewelbox, Art-Deco-meets-Old-Hollywood vibe had already seduced me even before I turned the key to chambre no.9 and laid eyes on the bathroom: marble everywhere, waterfall shower, literal yards of counter space, and...what? Is this happening? Giant bottles of Aesop products. Yeah, forget those tiny single serving hotel offerings—Thoumieux has it covered. Not that I didn’t bring my own…
In fact, there are typically a disproportionate number of beauty products to clothes or shoes in my trusty TravelPro carry-on. We’re talking three freezer bags of hair, makeup and skincare goodies. Trips are often my favorite time to try out different formulas and play with new colors…basically, play dress up. Here’s what I kept reaching for on this jaunt:
Tracie Martyn Amla Purifying Cleanser: brightening, clarifying foaming cleanser. Exfoliates with enzymes, so it’s smooth (not a scrub). Gentle enough for my sensitive skin and works great with my Clarisonic Mia.
Tom Ford Black Orchid and Lancôme L’Absolue Rouge #132 lipsticks: One’s a slightly Goth aubergine; the other, a classic red. Layer together and what have you got? The perfectly edgy, wintery pout.
By Terry Mascara Terrybly in #3 Terryblu: Recently prescribed to me by the founder herself—I reached for black, naturally, and she said ‘Mais non! Blue.’ Very glad that she did. It’s subtle and brings out the longed-for hazel in my brown eyes.
Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base: I’ve been using it since putting it on Julia, and I’m obsessed. It’s a highlighting fluid and has the best consistency—not too shimmery, thick, or artificial looking. I dab it on my cheekbones, nose, chin, Cupid’s Bow and inner corners of the eyes.
Diptyque Eau Mage: My go-to scent lately. A strong, bold blend of ambroxin, green mandarin, cashmeran and cumin created by perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin under the 34 Blvd Saint Germain umbrella. Perfect for winter.
Oh, and back to that hotel room—the bed wasn’t bad either.
