Can't Live Without: Patricia Wexler MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum

Many years ago, a beauty editor friend of mine at In Style gave me a giant container of a Patricia Wexler product called MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum. I think I had complained about dry skin and she went into her cabinet of beauty products and handed me this full size container. All I knew was that "Pat Wexler" was a very popular dermatologist in Manhattan and now had joined the bandwagon of becoming a household name by creating a line of skincare. I also knew this stuff was expensive -- over $100 -- and was grateful for the freebie from my friend.

I remember liking Patricia Wexler's MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum, especially the consistency of it. Slick with a non-greasy "silicone" finish, I loved that this "serum" wasn't a liquid and it had a "powder" finish to it that seemed like a great foundation...for well,....foundation. I couldn't help but also love the bright pink, slightly fuchsia hue. It went on clear but I liked that it had a bright, cheery color as if it was "play" makeup!

Fast forward a few years and I found myself in a Bath & Body Works store at Village Pointe in Omaha and rediscovered my "old" friend. They were having a special sale: buy any Patricia Wexler product for $35+ and this normally $150 3.4 ounce Patricia Wexler MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum is only $45. Seriously, it wasn't hard to pull the trigger on that deal.

It was the same giant sized tub that my friend had given me years earlier. All I remembered was that I liked the consistency, that it didn't do anything terrible to my skin and that I would use it very sparingly as I wanted to save it.

For reasons I can only attribute to being a "magazine editor cheapskate" (it was hard to actually buy beauty products when so many items were available for free by asking a beauty editor for something or a dollar at the beauty sales), I had never bought the Patricia Wexler serum again even though I liked it.

I'm now on my third purchased jar of Patricia Wexler serum. I am still a cheapskate, though; I bought all three jars during the $45 special promos that go on at Bath & Body Works.

The Patricia Wexler MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum is worth every penny (even if you have to pay the full price of $150). For those of you who like primers, this really takes the place of a primer and a moisturizer for those days that you don't want the heaviness of a lotion. It truly has an amazing powdery finish that is smooth but not greasy. And that bright pink color is definitely a cheery way to start the day!

photo source

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Can't Live Without: Catherine Malandrino for Repetto ballet flat

Do you have something in your closet that is your absolute "go-to" item? You know, something that is comfortable, suitable for any occasion, a cinch to throw on and go out the door. Have you parted with something else in your closet that just was worn down, ripped, permanently stained or doesn't fit anymore?

I've noticed that in a closet full of clothes and shoes, I have my favorites that I truly cannot live without them. Ok, yes, I could live without them but let's face it, I really would be pretty bummed if I didn't have them.

The other day when I was slipping on my shoes, I thought: "Seriously, these are the most comfortable shoes I own. I don't know what I would do without them!"

This inspired me to start an ongoing series called: "Can't Live Without" and it will highlight certain items in my wardrobe that have proven to be indispensable (and sadly, many are irreplaceable). 

My first Can't Live Without items are my limited edition Catherine Malandrino designed Repetto bolshoi ballet flat. I cannot tell you how many pairs of shoes landed in my offices at In Style. Because I was a sample size 6.5/7 (37), there was never a shortage of shoes, boots, slippers, sneakers and the like. Often times designers would even send me the "never produced" samples -- these were the prototype designs that were shown to buyers and never got enough orders so they were never made. Yes, I own multiple "one of a kind" shoes but these were put into production (from what I remember). These ballet flats were designed by Catherine Malandrino and had this wonderful distressed star pattern in white on gray (I wrote lovingly about them in a past Troc Talk series called Two For The Road). I love the square toed Repetto "bolshoi" style instead of the more traditional pointed versions. This pair of shoes are so worn in that I really don't know what I'm going to do when they finally "die." I'll be sure to take them to Sam DiMauro at Andy's Shoe Repair (he's the genius shoemaker in Omaha that we've written about that works miracles on all shoes) and see if he can work his magic. Otherwise, I will have to settle for regular Repetto bolshoi ballet flats (but even here, they're sold out and not available in my size!).

So you might ask why I don't stock Repetto ballet flats at the Troc? I wrote up an order a couple years ago but realized that it's a price point that doesn't work well here in Omaha. Believe me, of all the 200+ shoes in my closet, these Repetto ballet flats are the ones I wear the most of all. I would gladly pay retail to purchase another pair when these beloved beauties finally bite the dust. But hopefully, as mentioned before, our guy Sam can do his thing and get me another few years!