Sunday, March 23, 2008
Life, Style, "Haute Stuff"

Beauty without borders

Handbags have a brush with genius, and a new line of mineral-based skin care hits stores

CREDIT:Courtesy of Psnob
Psnob “Hot & Pink” bag

By Kirsten Ott

HAND TO HAND
Attitude is a fine thing if you know how to play it right, and that’s just what psnob handbags do. Atlanta handbag designer and artist Rebecca Robinson draws on her fine art background to bring something original to the fashion table. Her psnob (pronounced snob) bags are each individual works of art—literally. Robinson creatively molds an artist’s canvas and acrylic paint into a functional, portable painting. Psnob collections are available in three categories: prima (one of a kind), imprimatur (limited-edition print) and ultima (custom order). The abstract art is painted on a cotton canvas, which is then treated with a water-based coating and then sewn into a fashionable, unique bag—one which makes a look-at-me statement when paired with any outfit. Robinson’s clutches range in price from $500 to $1,200. www.psnob.com.

CLEAN START
Spring signals the beginning of warmer weather, outdoor events, more sweating and easier ways to break out; in other words, time to clean up your skin. Two new products to arm yourself with in preparation of battling those pesky breakouts are the Renew & Reveal Facial Cleanser and Blemish Therapy treatment, both of which were introduced by Bare Escentuals in February 2008. The Renew & Reveal Facial Cleanser, $26, is a mineral-based cleanser in a concentrated powder form that gently cleanses, exfoliates and nourishes skin while restoring its natural radiance. The water-activated formula comes in powder form to maintain its purity and potency. By squeezing out a small amount of powder into your palm and then adding a few drops of water, a light clay-like cleanser is formed, which feels oh-so-good on the face. It’s not irritating, but leaves the face feeling clean. The Blemish Therapy treatment, $28, is a very gentle but powerful blemish-zapping agent. It utilizes sulfur to treat and heal existing acne, while preventing future breakouts and blackouts. It minimizes redness, and it’s translucent, so it’s appropriate for all skin types and ages and goes on smooth under makeup. Plus, it comes with its own application brush, so you’re not putting any additional oils from your fingers onto your blemishes. Available online and at Sephora, Bare Escentuals boutiques, Ulta, Nordstrom and Macy’s. www.bareescentuals.com. SP
Catch up with resident shopping addict and Life, Food & Style Editor Kirsten Ott at kirstenott@sundaypaper.com.