The beauty of argan oil

by Brittany Weinstein (LA)

If someone asks, “What’s your beauty secret?” it means you must be doing something right, right? So let’s just assume (and secretly hope) I’ve just been asked. Well, first, thank you. And second, it’s argan oil.

My argan oil favorites from Kiehl’s and Josie Maran.

It works wonders for hydrating those pesky dry ends that make your hair look like it’s begging for a trim. I use it once a week before bed (preferably the night before I change my sheets since we’re talking water-rolling-off-your-hair-in-beads oily). Thankfully, it washes right out with one shampoo and leaves no oily residue. Second perk: This stuff works great on your skin too—it’s super-moisturizing without leaving you suited up for a Slip ’N Slide. Enjoy!

Green it up: Organic chamomile cleanser

by Brittany Weinstein (LA)

It’s official: I have finally boarded the “go green” beauty bandwagon. Though there are some old-school products I simply will not part with (La Mer eye cream is the best ever), I’ve slowly been replacing the old with newer, eco-friendlier versions. This week I used up the last of a not-so-green facial cleanser and replaced it with one from Alicia Silverstone’s natural—and naturally vegan—skin-care line for Juice Beauty. And—drum roll, please—it seems Alicia isn’t clueless when it comes to greening it up. Chock-full of organic ingredients like aloe, white tea leaf and lemon peel, this chamomile-scented cleanser smells as good as it feels. My towel is makeup free after I dry off (translation: it works), my skin is so fresh and clean and I am one step closer to a chemical-free existence.

Food adventure: 24 hours in Portland, OR

by Brittany Weinstein (LA)

If you’ve got 24 hours to spare, you might want to spend them in Portland, Oregon. I hopped a short Friday flight from LA, arrived in Portland around midnight and woke up Saturday ready to hit the culinary scene.

Parking lots overflow with food carts serving some of the best and most creative food you can imagine. First, we hit up The Big Egg for gourmet egg sandwiches. I settled on the PDX, an over-medium egg with Tillamook vintage white Cheddar cheese, fresh chives and stone-ground mustard on grilled brioche.

All fueled up, I was off to Rejuvenation, an über-cool houseware emporium. Its focus is lighting, but it houses everything from trinkets for your bathroom to antique kilim rugs. The f & b café at the back of the store, serving homemade soups, salads and sandwiches with a foodie Portland spin, was a delicious find too.

Next we headed to what the locals call “NoPo” (North Portland) for a visit to EaT: an oyster bar where the Deep South meets the great Northwest. We ordered mint juleps and crawfish as we watched the Kentucky Derby. Delish!

Later we took a walk through one of Portland’s many parks before heading to dinner at Biwa (which already had a line out the door at 6:30pm!). The homestyle Japanese food was divine, as was the homemade Shochu, a Japanese liquor, pictured above. Highly, highly recommended.

Ah, Portland—you served up so much more than granola.