It’s so hot and humid here. It’s too hot to move, really. And forget about sitting on a patio – it’s inside and air conditioning for this little chickadee.

Some things – like writing – cannot be done outside in the sweltering heat. Though it would deepen my tan quite a bit...

Hope you enjoy this summer finds and keep an eye out for more of these lists – I’ve got more coming your way each week!

Big hugs,

Stephanie

Stephanie Dickison
Publisher & Editor – the knack

The Newly Designed Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray Keeps My Skin Refreshed All Day Long!

Don’t you ever want to splash water on your face to cool down in this heat, but you’re afraid to ruin your makeup?

Then the newly designed Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray is the perfect thing.

It not only cools you down with its fine mist, but it moisturizes and tones your skin!

Spray on and you’ll feel instantly refreshed! Leave it on for a few minutes before dabbing your skin. The only ingredients are Evian Water and nitrogen, so you can feel good about using it.

And you don’t have to worry about the bottle being detrimental to you or the environment- “Evian is propelled by natural and safe nitrogen (80% of the air we breathe is nitrogen) so it does not damage the ozone layer.”

It’s compact enough that you can carry it with you in your tote or large purse, though you can now get different sizes and fun new designs to suit your lifestyle.

FunTote Makes the Best Summer Bags!

If you don’t have a FunTote, you are missing out!

These beautiful, functional and affordable 100% natural cotton, machine washable canvas tote bags are so much fun, you’re going to want to buy one of each design!

Not only do they came in different styles, colours and sizes, each one is made for women on the go – there are pockets for our keys, wallets and cellphones. Some of them even have straps for yoga mats!

I love the modern look, their functionality and the colours used. Each Funtote is “individually silk screened with large-format screens and hand-printed by individual artisans”

So you are getting designer bags at incredibly low prices.

And, as if all of that is not fantastic enough, the bags are both eco friendly and biodegradable.

If I know you, you’re going to have a hard time choosing – I know I did.

You can choose from Side Zipper, Baggy, Hobo, Messenger, Fun and Novelty.

I picked Forest Baggy because I have never seen a bag like it and it is just so pretty, I couldn’t resist!

But my list is long. There are a lot here I can’t wait to try out. In fact, I’d love one for each season, along with a few fun bags and wallets to liven up my collection.

Sigh. Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted? A company that makes beautiful and affordable bags – so many that it’s hard to pick just one?

Giovanni Organic Skin Care’s D:tox System Is a Great Way to Start the Day!

Everyone I know is doing a cleanse of some sort.

And while I think it would a good idea for me to do one, especially since as a restaurant reviewer, I can sometimes have up to 7 different meats and seafood in one sitting, it’s never been a “good time” to eat cleanly (not when you’ve got an Indian, Italian and Greek restaurant all this week!).

So I went to the next best thing – getting the toxins out through the body with Giovanni Organic Skin Care’s D:tox System.

I like it because it is a simple 3 step program with each step – 1,2 and 3 – clearly marked on each bottle so that it’s dead easy to follow along.

I also love that Step 1, the Purifying Body Wash and Purifying Body Bar use actual activated charcoal and volcanic ash that gets into your skin and pores and seeps out the toxins trapped in your skin. It looks a little weird because it’s black, but it just means it’s the good stuff.

Step 2’s Purifying Body Exfoliant Scrub gets at the oil in your skin and leaves your skin feeling incredibly smooth. I love this step because after you rinse the tiny little pieces away, your skin feels good right away – even before the last step!

The final step – Replenishing Body Lotion – feels fantastic and rich. The thick lotion contains super-antioxidants acai and goji that nourish your skin with vitamins and minerals and leaving it smelling clean and fresh thanks to a natural fig and green tea fragrance.

I like the system’s ease of use and you really feel like you’re getting something different with this combination of the wash, scrub and lotion.

I feel clean, inside and out. And all without having to give up lamb shank, bouillabaisse and lobster claws!

Ahhh. Now that’s livin’!!!!!

To find out where to get it, go to the Giovanni Cosmetics website and click on contact.

Pop Beauty’s Lip Lust is a Great Way to Add Sheer Colour!

I find that during these warm summer months, my lipsticks stay at the back of the drawer, while my lip glosses get a lot of wear.

But no longer, now that I have discovered Pop Beauty’s Lip Lust - a sheer lipstick that adds a little bit of colour along with a ton of moisture!

It goes on smooth and is infused with natural food flavourings so if you’re liking your lips more than usual, you know why,

I tried No 2 Flirty Fuschia, a sheer pink that I think would be flattering on any skin tone. You can apply one layer for just a hint of tint, or put on two for an extra glam effect!

Not only does Lip Lust contain vitamin E to keep your lips moist, it has hyaluronic acid to plump you your lips “by filling the lines and trapping the moisture to lips.”

So now your lips are soft, smooth and ultra sexy. F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!

It is available exclusively at Sephora and comes in 4 fun colours.

The Saress is the Ultimate Beach & Poolside Dress!

It is a fantastic way to cover up at the beach or poolside without worrying about knots, ties or any kind of fastener that can potentially come loose!

You simply slip The Saress around your back and thread opposite arms through the loops.

Done!

The crossover look is flattering no matter what your shape as it “enhances the bust, trims the waist & skims over the thighs, tummy & bottom, draping low at the back, creating an ultra feminine shape.”

The fabric is 100% Polyethylene Terethalate, which means it keeps you cool without creasing and stretches when you do.

It is hand washable and there are a ton of colourful prints to choose from.

I got one in Yellow Bloom because really – do I need one more black dress?

I am glad to finally have a cover up that flatters and is comfortable.

Now we've just got to see if Eddie & Allison's pool is free to use...