Finding The Correct Fall Skin Care Routine

As we move into the cooler months, it’s time give our skincare routine a makeover. Our latest find, or shall we say rediscovery, for skincare is Desert Essence and the brand can definitely help refresh your fall skincare routine! With formulations for dry/sensitive, oily/combination, or normal skin types, the various collections of natural skin care products help to balance skin so that you can turn heads all season. Follow the Desert Essence skin care routines below catered to each unique skin type.

For Dry/Sensitive Skin

Step 1: Wash away impurities with Desert Essence Gentle Nourishing Organic Cleanser that works to remove dirt and rejuvenate dry skin.

Step 2:  Apply Desert Essence Gentle Nourishing Day Cream SPF 15 daily to protect against harmful UV rays and hydrate sensitive skin with the help of Cucumber and Chamomile.

For Oily/Combination Skin

Step 1: Cleanse with Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash to rid skin of dirt and excess oil while improving skin’s clarity and texture.

Step 2: Moisturize skin with the lightweight Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Oil Control Lotion that works to hydrate without clogging pores.

Step 3:  Use the Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick, formulated with Tea Tree Oil, to reduce oil and clear problem skin areas for a glowing complexion.

For Normal Skin

Step 1: Cleanse with Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash or exfoliate with Desert Essence Gentle Stimulating Facial Scrub to remove dirt and oil for renewed, radiant skin.

Step 2: Apply Desert Essence Daily Essential Moisturizer, infused with Jojoba Oil, to revitalize and soothe skin.

All products can be found online at Desert Essence! 

2019 Holiday Gift Guide

Each year, our team curates a Holiday Gift Guide that generally sticks to beauty and grooming. Well this year, at the suggestion of one of our brightest TME Team members, we’ve hopped right out of our lane and decided to drive on a road that would be more reflective of everyone’s interests. As we began to cultivate the 2019 Holiday Gift Guide, we thought back upon our summer travels -- the unique crafts lovingly designed and the essence of this season began to manifest. Finding the perfect gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list will always bring about some degree of stress but if you go into this with a plan, you can’t go wrong. Whether the gift is for your partner, an unexpected guest or a hostess gift, Team TME has suggestions for all that will leave everyone feeling good this holiday season. Peruse through our list and find the perfect gift for everyone on yours!

Home Living

1. Bose Wave SoundTouch Music System IV ($540): CDs. FM/AM radio. System packages add more playing options with music from your iPod plus Internet stations and play lists from your computer, smartphone, tablet or any Bluetooth device.
2. Bath Master Steam Shower Enclosure Room Spa Whirlpool Touch Screen ($1800): 6 jet amazing Whirlpool System, head rest and remote control put this home spa steam shower in the must have category for home luxury living.
3. Waring Popcorn Maker with Melting Station ($235): Make up to 20 cups of irresistible popcorn—and your favorite melted topping—in minutes with Waring’s foolproof popper. A motorized stirrer keeps the corn in motion, so every kernel pops to fluffy, crisp-tender perfection, while the built-in warming pot heats up butter, chocolate or caramel for drizzling on top.
4. Keurig K575 Plus Brewing System ($180): The Keurig K575 Coffee Maker is the ultimate Keurig brewer. The extra-large color touch screen makes it easy to brew the perfect cup, mug, or carafe, and there is a separate setting for specialty beverages such as hot cocoa, chai, and mochas. It utilizes interactive technology to recognize the inserted Keurig pod and optimize to the recommended, customized setting for that particular beverage.
5. Cuisinart’s Chef’s Convection Oven ($259): boasts 15 cooking functions and offers special settings for speed convection, sandwiches and bagels. Heating power of 1875 watts provides quick heat up time, precise temperature and perfect results every time.
6. Waring Breakfast Express Belgian Waffle & Omelet Maker ($99): A delicious breakfast for two will be available in minutes. Featuring 1400 watts of power, the Breakfast Express is also great for preparing pancakes, frittatas, fried eggs, English muffins and more.
7. Waring Juice Extractor ($140): The Brushed Stainless Steel Juice Extractor easily makes fresh, pure vegetable and fruit juices at home to aid in a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle. The Juice Extractor includes a 32-oz. brushed stainless steel juice cup an extra-wide 3-inch feed chute.

Gifts For Her

1. Royal Silk Scarf ($95): Woven by villagers in Vietnam, this smooth, silk scarf is an excellent addition to any fashionista’s wardrobe. Also featured as a handcrafted gift in the World Vision Gift Catalog, this fashion item is a gift that keeps on giving.
2. Globe-Trotter Moneypenny Navy Overnighter ($2,210): Handmade in England from the finest navy and black leather, the tote bag features a navy herringbone lining on the inside along with a zipped compartment and a slip pocket.
3. Spongelle Spongetté Trio ($25): Infused Spongettés are perfect for holiday travel, or to take to the gym. With Extracts of Yuzu, Edelweiss, and Vetiver these are a luxurious treat for her.
4. Ayres Beauty Travel Kit ($38.50): The best of Ayres in travel size for when you tell her that you’ve booked Four Season Private Jet Journeys. This set includes 3 Bar Soaps, 3 Shower Creams and 3 Body Butters that offer the perfect sampling of Ayres’ signature collections.
5. FOREO Luna 2 ($160) The revolutionary LUNA 2 delivers enhanced T-Sonic facial cleansing and anti-wrinkle system designed to minimize the appearance of blemishes while effectively addressing concerns related to aging skin. LUNA 2 is now available in four varieties, so you can select the one that is tailored to your skin type.

Gifts For Him

1. Harry’s Winter Winston Shave Bundle ($60 - $75): This holiday set includes a Limited-Edition Copper Handle Winston Razor, 3 Blade Cartridges, Foaming Shave Gel and Travel Blade Cover, Razor Stand and Dopp Kit. Both the Limited-Edition Winton Razor and Razor Stand can be engraved with up to three letters.
2. Bespoke Post ($45 per month): Give the guy in your life a curated “box of amazing”. Each themed monthly box can include anything from men's lifestyle gear to tools and ties to cigars and more.
3. “The Ultimate Cigar Book” ($22): From Cuba to the Dominican Republic to Jamaica to Honduras to Nicaragua to Mexico, South America, the Philippines, Europe, and China, The Ultimate Cigar Book is the most complete, factual, and up-to-date book for the cigar smoker or for those who just want to learn more about the fascinating and popular world of cigar smoking.
4. UAG iPhone Case ($35): Featuring an amour shell and an impact resistant core with lightweight construction. UAG’s case also offers up over sized tactical buttons, easy access ports and meets military drop-test standards.
5. DZR Minna Trainers ($109): The Minna was named in honor of DZR’s showrooms grand, gritty alley in San Francisco. With graphics designed by local artist and DJ, Jeremiah Ball, the Minna is a collaborative effort of urban style and pure performance.
6. Showers Pass Reflective Torch Socks ($17.95): The Showers Pass Torch Socks feature the cutting edge in 3M Scotchlight Reflective Material coating technology that offers 4-way stretch for comfort and durability with 500 candle power reflectivity.

Host/Hostess Gifts

1. Teeling Whiskey Co ($24): The Teeling Trinity Pack is a set of three-5cl Irish whiskey’s by Teeling. This set contains the: Single Grain, Small Batch and Single Malt.
2. “Drinking the Devil's Acre” ($24.95): With twenty-five iconic cocktail recipes made famous by San Francisco and accompanied by an additional 45 recipes that show the evolution of these classic elixirs and history of this beloved city.
3. Sol de Janeiro Candle ($42) This limited edition boasts the same addictive Cheirosa ’62 fragrance as the brand's best-loved Brazilian Bum Bum Cream comes into a shimmering new light. Drenched in sunshine, steeped in emotion and brimming with Brazil, now, you can fill your whole world with the scent you love right at home.
4. Mayu Cast Iron Teapot ($99): Designed by renowned industrial designer Ken Okuyama, this sleek teapot features an aluminum alloy handle that represents the shape of a katana — the Japanese samurai sword. Handcrafted in cast iron for excellent heat retention, with a spout that’s ideally shaped to prevent drips after pouring.
5. Mrs. Prinables Caramel Apple Gift Set ($42): This delicious holiday gift from comes with twelve juicy dipped apples and packaged in festive Christmas-themed gift boxes.
6. Luce della Vite ($120): Began as a partnership between Napa legend Robert Mondavi and Vittoro Frescobaldi, of the historic Marchese d’ Frescobaldi family empire of Tuscany, when they decided to combine forces to make an innovative New World wine in an Old World setting. Translating to “Light of Life” and touting an intricate projection of sunlight on its label, there’s truly no better wine for a season that celebrates Lights.

November isn't even finished, but trust us that this year has been one heck of a ride. We are so completely ready to spend the next month or so with family and friends. But, before we do we want to take a moment to THANK everyone who has continued to support us and to wish everyone the very warmest and most amazing holiday season! Until 2020 xo TME

Please note, some prices will vary due to Black Friday Sales! *While all items are courtesy of referenced brands, this has never influenced our decision to include said brands in any post or promotional format – as always we take great pride in our ability to always remain neutral and unbiased for our readers!

Holiday Travel Gear: The 2019 Beauty Must-Haves

Oh, it's on .... the crazy travel of the Holiday Season is about to be here! There's no doubt that we love the holiday season. Maybe it’s because we know that parties are in abundance, or perhaps it’s the thought (and sigh of relief) that soon we'll be spending the post-holiday with our toes in the sand -- far, far away from the cold! Most likely it’s a lovely combination. However before we get to jet off to parts unknown, Team TME has to share the beauty must-haves for traveling with ease this holiday season.

Traveling is essentially second nature to us, although it hasn’t always been so. When we sat down to really think about traveling during the holidays, it was a chat filled with memories of “OMG” moments, a lot of laughs and the realization that we need our creature comforts! Read on for Team TME’s must-haves that will have you arriving in style and looking beautiful all season long.

Elizabeth Arden Bright Lights Holiday Collection ($67), which includes: Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum, Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Eye Serum, 2 Compacts  Day/Night, A highlighter, Grand Entrance Mascara in Stunning Black, Pencil Eyeliner in Smoky Black, 4 Beautiful Color Lipsticks, Lip Liner Pencil in Nude, 3 Elizabeth Arden Makeup Brushes and the Bright Lights Red Train Case!

So, what else will you need? … ECRU New York’s Travel Hair Dryer ($110) with patented Japanese ion technology, your hair dries hair from the inside out to infuse it with moisture, restoring luster and reducing frizz and flyaways. This hair dryer offers dual voltage to adjust drying power to meet European and American requirements and is compact. If you want to have pretty holiday hair, we say go with ECRU New York Luxe Treatment Travel & Trial Set ($22), which contains portable sizes of ECRU New York Luxe Treatment Shampoo, Protective Silk Conditioner, and Sunlight Finishing Spray MAX all come packaged in a convenient travel bag, ensuring that your hair will be the ultimate fashion accessory wherever you go … all TSA approved.

You can’t forget skincare… even on the go! Between delivering products with assured efficacy and Golden Door’s philosophies that align with our own, is it any wonder that this spa’s skincare products have made it into the TME Vault? (And Golden Door’s Artisan Foods have made it into our picnic baskets and make a fab hostess/host gift!)  Anyway … since we discovered the Try Me Kit ($28) it has become a staple and contains TSA approved sizes of the Golden Peel-A-Way Masque, Bamboo Face Scrub, and Hydrating Cleaning Milk that are a combination guaranteed to bring life back to tired and dull skin!

You also probably don’t want to forgo shaving … A gadget that we discovered many summers ago is the Venus Snap Razor ($7) and we do not go anywhere without it. This mini razor allows for instant smoothness on the go! With five curve-hugging blades and a portable compact, you’ll be ready for anything, anytime, anywhere.

Don’t forget fragrance and if you’re looking for something new, check out TME’s Fragrance Section. On the subject of scent … we’re going where many have gone before … but most feel uncomfortable talking about. While we were swapping “war” stories, the subject of bathroom time came up -- more specifically the potty and the lingering scents left behind. Our solution to this is Porcelain! 

Designed by an organic chemist, Porcelain ($12 - Travel Bottle) is formulated to create an odor barrier between you and the toilet water, while actively reacting with and neutralizing the volatile gases in the water. A spritz is all you need. Made in the USA and available in five scents -- Belle, Day in the Country, Game Day, Simpatico and Teal -- don’t leave home without it! 

From our family here at TME to yours … xo Happy Holidaze!