Hey CeraVe, Where you at?

by
Photo by Linda Prebreza on Pexels.com

Has anyone else noticed that CeraVe products are in short supply here in T-town? After visiting CVS and Target looking for the body lotion and other products with no luck, I googled “CeraVe shortage” and I’m still torn on why this is happening? Last year, the company said its launch into Australia had forced a shortage of product availability, due to it being SUPER POPULAR! Um, so now is it Covid? What gives? When a girl needs the ceramide body lotion, where is she to go? If you have a secret spot here that you know about to find these products, please chime in below!

The Joy of Blind Product Faith

by

In a time when things are still uncertain and weird, there is nothing better than the everlasting pursuit of a product we believe will make us more beautiful, more youthful and that perhaps, is an undiscovered treasure.

Recently, this has been the Avene product line for me. It’s funny to note that I had just discussed succombing to Botox for the very distinct forehead lines and “11s” between my eyebrows with my friends when I came across an article on Instyle.com about Avene products. “Cures canyon-wide wrinkles” the article said. Women in their 70s and 80s claimed they didn’t even need to wear makeup anymore because the Avene products diminished their wrinkles to such an extent, the article said.

I have since been completely hooked. I read all about the mineral-rich thermal waters from which Avene creates its products, using a sacred spring in France that legend says, cured a horse of alopecia in the 18th century and has since been thoroughly researched for its healing properties for the last 300 years. In fact, the water was sent to help soothe victims of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. You can read more about it here.

So far, I haven’t seen super-incredible improvement in my own canyon-sized wrinkles, but I’m completely willing to believe the narrative. At the very least, the products feel incredibly luxurious to use.

A Cuff Above

by

There’s a certain bravery to wearing a large cuff when the current bracelet trend is clearly more delicate and stacked. But, it was Coco Chanel, by the way, who confidently asked the Italian jeweler, Duke Fulco di Verdura, to redesign her jewelry collection and he presented her with what would become the most iconic cuff of all time. Chanel would wear her Verdura Cuff constantly and it’s a piece still coveted today.

In that spirit of fearlessness and breaking the rules, ChicAcrylicCuffs on Etsy is offering its own take on the bold cuff, with jeweled emblems on smooth, crystal-clear acrylic. From the Three Rams Cuff, seen above, to versions with jeweled crowns, horses, and flowers, they range in price from $35 to $55. The quality is stunning and each piece arrives in a cute black and white box with cleaning instructions.

Your inner rebel would be proud.

Pretty in Pink at Francesca’s

by
Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Some pinkalicious pieces are now front and center at Francesca’s at La Encantada!

Blush hued-dresses, blouses and tops are featured throughout the store, with some especially cute versions for Valentine’s Day! The Foothills store also has constant sales, alternating between percentage-off days and BOGO days during this pandemic winter. If pink is not your thing, there’s also a lot of camo clothing right now.

Piece by Piece Wear: From Street Chic to Luxe Lounge

by

Walking into Piece by Piece Wear in St. Philip’s Plaza is nothing short of walking into your stylish best friend’s amazing closet.

And, according to owner Julie Penny, that’s entirely by design.

“It should be like shopping with your best friend,” said Penny, the engaging force—you meet her and you love her—of this Tucson boutique since the 90s. “I want it to be a great experience!”

And because Penny has customers ordering items from Piece by Piece from as far as New York and Louisiana, it’s clear that experience has cemented an incredibly loyal fan base. Her Facebook and Instagram feeds are not only filled with her luxe new arrivals, but also genuinely ecstatic reviews from first-time and longtime shoppers alike.

“My goal is whenever you get something from me, it becomes your go-to piece,” said Penny. “I want it to be like, ‘What did I wear before this?’”  Ultra-soft lines such as Sundry, Tart Intimates and sumptuous tees by JET John Eshaya are just the start. “I want it to feel soft. I touch everything. It has to be soft to start, and then I look at it.”

“It all starts with what I want to wear and what my friends want to wear,” she said. In fact, every single piece of clothing at Piece by Piece is handpicked by Penny.

A science major at DePaul University, she credits a stint at a designer consignment store for her fashionable fate. “I just fell in love with fashion.” She and her husband moved to Arizona after she joked that frost began forming inside their apartment windows in Illinois. Though they initially thought Phoenix, Tucson’s inclusive community and charm won them over. “Everyone here says hello and smiles at you.”

Penny has since been a devoted promoter of all things local. She is the exclusive carrier of Tucson designer Annie Hammer’s jewelry line and mosaic stones by Rox, another talented local artist.

When the pandemic hit and closed so many Tucson businesses, she made sure to continue selling her items online and personally delivered them to her loyal customers. “It’s what kept me alive,” she said. Even now, when she can’t travel to her usual markets because of COVID-19, she treasures her designers and representatives who come to her, even customizing their lines for what her shoppers want.

“I love shopping at Julie’s store,” said Mindy Thomas, a frequent Piece by Piece shopper. “It’s my favorite place in Tucson to get cute, on-trend pieces. I always leave with a smile on my face, spending my money locally and looking fashionable.”

Oh, and right now, there’s a rare 50% off sale going on–the perfect time to discover your new favorite store!

Fashion, Beauty News around Tucson

by

A few things heard around T-town:

Do you like Burberry? Check out Posh Boutique on Instagram, @shopposhboutique, for some awesome, pre-loved, luxury finds, and grab them before they’re gone! Recent arrivals include Burberry rain boots and stylish shoulder bags!

Until tomorrow, Bluemercury is offering a complimentary wellness bag of eight samples with any purchase over $120. For more info, click here

Did you know W Boutique offers closet edits? Inquire about styling services at its St. Philip’s Plaza digs.

The Green Monkey Boutique has re-located to Plaza Palomino, leaving its previous spot at River Center.

Slides Rule at Nordstrom Rack

by

In these pandemic times, is there nothing better than the slide? It’s the perfect slip-on shoe to take you from your Zoom meeting in the living room to your business lunch in your kitchen with no one the wiser. With origins from ancient Rome and adapted in 1970s Germany to a more sporty style for athletes, the slide can now thank 2020 for adding fur for comfort.

One Tucson retailer is currently offering every color and style imaginable.

Nordstrom Rack on Wilmot has every variation from ballet pink faux fur to black faux fur to leopard. Also, hidden in the show racks are bright pink Fila brand slides and more. Thick heel, thin heel and some with better arch support than others, ranging in price from below $20 and up, the slides are in great supply right now, but may dwindle with demand. Definitely check them out!

Free People Opens at La Encantada

by

It’s no secret that La Encantada is a T-town treasure.

In terms of sophistication, it’s what elevates our Southern Arizona city. The experience and elegance of shopping and eating at La Encantada is, quite frankly, a freaking joy. Despite losses over the years of Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade, this shopping center works so hard to bring beautiful stores onto its grounds, recently welcoming West Elm, Madewell and Sundance.

So, even in a pandemic, the addition of the stylish new Free People store is something to relish. Taking over the vacated premises of Brooks Brothers, the posh new location boasts beautiful boho pieces that uphold the retailer’s vibe of “femininity, courage and spirit.”

The Free People shopper is “smart, creative, confident and comfortable in all aspects of her being, free and adventurous, sweet to tough to tomboy to romantic,” according to the company’s website. “A girl who likes to keep busy and push life to its limits, with traveling and hanging out and everything in between.” They also mention a girl who is 26 years old, however, I refuse to believe that leaves out all the plus-26 women in this town who are very young-looking, stylish and amazing, as well!

Check it out next time you are out and about and while you’re there, head into bluemercury for the last of its incredibly packaged holiday gifts!

POPPED – A Tucson Take on Popcorn

by

Our household recently got a nice surprise – a shipment of delicious, desert-themed popcorn from Popped Artisan Popcorn, which is made right here in T-town! First off, I’m a packaging girl and the simple brown paper bags emblazoned with majestic saguaros won me over. The popcorn is also light and very flavorful! The small-batch, handcrafted popcorn comes in flavors like Mesquite Smoked Cheddar, Sweet Chili Lime, Mexican Hot Chocolate and many more. Let’s just say, the Prickly Pear Caramel and Mesquite Smoked Mezcal Caramel didn’t even make it one night before they were completely devoured. What a cool Christmas or holiday present to send someone?

Can’t think of a better way to make quarantine not so sucky. You can find out more on the company’s website at www.poppedartisan.com and you can follow Popped on Facebook here.

Farmgirl Flowers…Nothing Better

by

It was at an outdoor engagement party for my friend Haley where I first saw Farmgirl Flowers a year ago. Wrapped in burlap, the beautiful blooms made the tables both stunning and rustic– the perfect vibe for the cute new couple. I asked Haley’s mom where she found them and she told me all about the company and how its founder, Christina Stembel, was the subject of a CNBC show about how she built Farmgirl herself from her savings!

To this day, Farmgirl Flowers is my go-to place to send blooms to friends and family for birthdays and thank yous and other special occasions! The arrangements are gorgeous and just look so much better than something you could find at a grocery store. The website photography is stunning and the entire order process is seamless and easy. The fact that its a woman-owned business makes it even easier to promote.

You can find out more about the company and order at www.farmgirlflowers.com.