Viniq Hosts a Ruby Spa Day

Day Two of Ms. Fabulous Cocktail Week. I was treated to an indulgent afternoon at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa in Midtown Manhattan. The host was Viniq Ruby, a gorgeous blend of vodka, berry, Moscato and citrus.

The theme of course, was ruby red. Ruby is my birthstone. Macarons looked like they were encrusted with crushed rubies. Sparkly jello shots made with Viniq looked like little jewels. We were treated to a multi-course cocktail tasting to feature the flavors of Viniq. I personally love the original in purple and the now the new Ruby version in red in the bottle itself. Its' signature look is an iridescent shimmering texture in the bottle as a result of mica being added. This is a sparkling additive usually found in candy and pastry but this is the only brand that featured it in the drink. I'm

The Red Door Spa is one of my favorite places in the city. The posh treatment rooms were like a maze of relaxation. Mini massages got everyone into a zen mood. Guests took turns receiving manicures in different shades of red. The final treatment was to get a fabulous braid creation.

If you're ready to indulge at home (and I will) here is a recipe for the "A-List" cocktail that I am grabbing for up top:

2 oz. Viniq Ruby
3 oz. champagne
Lime

Pour into a champagne glass and served chilled.

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Gift Guide Pick: Elizabeth Arden UNTOLD Perfume and Lipstick

The hottest trends to come out of the fall/winter runways were unmistakably red and gold. They also happen to be the colors of the holiday season and the brand that embodies that is undoubtedly Elizabeth Arden.

 That shiny gold case and bright red lip symbolized the classic look of glamour to me since I first opened up a fashion magazine as a child. Now, the ruby lip is as hot as ever. I admit I was a little shy to try the bold shade of Red Door Red for daytime. Elizabeth Arden’s global artist Rebecca Restrepo created a collection of lipstihues to flatter all skin tones and fashion colors. I learned that the key to a strong, pigment intensive shade is to make sure your lips are well moisturized. This particular collection is filled with shea butter and vitamins A, C and E to pamper your lips.

I don’t know what it is about pulling open a new lipstick box and turning the tube that got me excited when I first explored makeup, but that joy never left. I already gave my Mom some early stocking stuffers with a few shades that she loved; my girlfriends might too.

My best BFFs will get to try a new fragrance. A great perfume in a glass sculpture is another no-brainer gift for your favorite beauty fans. Elizabeth Arden’s UNTOLD was launched this year. The fragrance is presented in a frosted faceted bottle, like a jewel. It is framed in silver then topped with a crystal clear stopper. The scent itself has what the industry calls “gourmand” notes of pear, black currant and pink pepper along with floral gardenia. I tested it out; it was kind of sexy, romantic, but not overpowering.

Are you ready for a party to give a bright red kiss?  Do you want to unwrap a seductive new scent? Find your goodies at the Elizabeth Arden makeup counter this holiday.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Elizabeth Arden. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Elizabeth Arden.

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Getaway Beauty with Elizabeth Arden

Memorial Day weekend = start of summer! For frequent getaways, you want to pack light but look fabulous!  Elizabeth Arden's expert Rebecca Restrepo gave great travel beauty tips at the Blog Meets Brand event I attended last week.

 I'm headed out to the Hamptons next week and a few more beach weekends around the country before fall.  I hope to get by with only one weekend bag (I just bought a Kate Spade one on sale!) This means I need to keep beauty products and liquids to a minimum.

The most practical way to do that is to carry multitasking products.  For the beach, I like moisturizers with a lot of sunscreen built in.

Restrepo also advised that solids always travel better than liquid.  She uses the company’s sponge-on cream makeup instead of something runnier.  Also, beware of being dehydrated when flying.  She cites Elizabeth Arden’s 8-Hour Cream Skin Protectant as something she uses on knees and elbows before landing.

I tried a few products from Elizabeth Arden myself to see how well they travel.   After a day in the sun, my skin feels tight and feels drained of moisture at night. Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum is perfect for travel.  Their tiny little pods with twist off opening  make them easy to slip into a makeup bag pocket.  You only need to pack as many as you need for the trip.  It was very light and surprisingly not greasy when applied on my face.  It absorbed quickly (I hate the sticky moist feeling of most night products).  I woke up with my face feeling silky.  

In the summer I (mostly) ditch my darker lipsticks in favor of a rich lip gloss.  Elizabeth Arden's Beautiful Color Luminous Lip Gloss has a great palette that looks like translucent versions of my favorite fall colors. Also, it has a mirror attached to the case, meaning I have one less compact I need to carry.  Some lip glosses are drying after long use.  This particular one has extra mango and shea butter for extra moisture.

Elizabeth Arden is an original New York company.  Their signature Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant was actually developed in 1930 and still runs on the same formula today.  I like to rub this stuff around my cuticles when I have handled too many pieces of paper or worked too hard on my embroidery projects.  In a pinch, I might use a bit to tame my brows or tips of stray hair.

Are you ready to venture off on YOUR summer getaway?  Always, always always, remember to bring the sunscreen! 

Want more tips? Connect with Elizabeth Arden on Twitter, Facebook and Instragram!

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Elizabeth Arden via Single Edition Media.The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Elizabeth Arden.

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