Jenn Falik, Style & Beauty Expert: Favorite Finds

First thing I do when I walk in the door from work? Light a candle. It instantly makes my apartment cozy.

If I am immediately retreating to my computer to jot down my latest fashion and beauty finds for my site, I reach for a Tocca candle.

The feminine packaging and the incredibly delicate and girly scents get me in the writing mood. These candles are potent, but the scents do not waft beyond my personal space, making them idea for a desk or a nightstand. My all time favorite is Ydra, but right now I am quite liking Cleopatra.

If my husband is home as well, and we are going to hang out in the living room and settle in to watch TV, or if company is coming over, I light up a Bond No. 9 candle.

These have a very high percentage of fragrance cooked into them, so immediately, your entire apartment will smell of whatever scent you choose. Hotels have starting branding signature scents for their lobbies, which makes me want to do the same for my hallway. Since I don’t have an in-house perfumer to make it for me, I am lucky that my Bond No. 9 Wall Street candle does the trick. People comment all the time on the incredible scent that greets them when they step out of the elevator onto my floor. Who’d have thought it came from a little jar sitting all the way inside my living room?

My tip? Stock up on candles- and have a few different types that you can turn to depending on the occasion. Your nose has quite a memory- so the scent you use for a house party should be pretty different than the one you use to lull yourself to sleep.

In the past, whenever I walked into a Fresh store, I would spend hours smelling everything, and by the time my exasperated shopping partner laid down the law and made me leave, I did so empty handed. With so many scents and products to choose from, I never could make that final decision. Which combo of fragrance and function was perfect for me?

I no longer have to make that sad purchase-free walk home, as I have discovered the wonder that is Fresh Mangosteen Bath & Shower Gel.

I am not going to lie- I have no idea really what a Mangosteen is. All I know is that it smells divine. Citrus-y but not identifiably so, sweet but not sickening, and, when mixed with the hot water and steam of your shower, it turns the every day ritual into a fragrant and delicious experience.

I ran out of mine the other day (and I NEVER finish a product, so this is huge) and I have to say, my day did not get off to its usual upbeat start. Happily, I quickly re-stocked and things are back to the way they should be- bright, happy and filled with much Mangosteen.

My tip? You shower every day (I assume) so make it count. Find a shower gel with a scent that suits you, and lather up. Regardless of whether or not the gel’s fragrance lingers all day on your skin, at least you can chalk up a few delightful minutes each morning to an addictive aromatic ritual.

Treat yourself to a sensational shower by stocking up on Mangosteen Bath & Shower Gel here.

Have a favorite shower gel I should know about? Email me at jennfalik@gmail.com.

Yes, I am a beauty fanatic. And as such, most people expect me to share some long drawn out daily face cleansing regimen whenever they ask me what cleanser I use.

Well, it is about time that I confess just how lazy I am when it comes to washing my face. I am incredibly lazy. After a day that usually begins around 6:30am and ends fourteen hours later, the last thing I want to do is suds up my face and go through a whole scrub and rinse process.

So, I use Darphin Azahar Floral Water- a one step, water-free, super gentle cleanser that, in conjunction with a cotton pad, wipes away all traces of makeup and other unpleasant side effects of city living. It does not dry out my skin and the delicious scent instantly relaxes me (something we can all use before bed, no?).

Oh- and did I mention that it removes eye makeup too? Well, it does. Love it.

My tip? Invest in as simple a cleanser as possible that still keeps your skin clear. The easier it is to clean your face, the more likely you are to do it twice a day, no matter how exhausted you are. And try and pick something in a pretty bottle. Sounds silly, perhaps- but, if it is nice to look at, you won’t mind keeping it on top of your sink. And, if it is on top of your sink, it is impossible not to feel obligated to use it.

Add this French beauty favorite to your skincare routine here.

Have a favorite cleanser I should know about? Email me at jennfalik@gmail.com.

I have always envied those amazing closets that you see in the movies or in magazines. Those perfectly edited and perfectly organized little And on top of that, they always feature an amazing area for accessories- complete with jewelry stands, belt and scarf hooks, and a shelf of flawlessly placed purses.

In my pursuit of closet perfection, I strongly believe the only way to succeed is one step at a time. For me, that first step actually involved many steps- daily walks of about 15 blocks as I made pilgrimages to Bed, Bath & Beyond in Chelsea. This was my source to stock up on boxes of Ultra Slim Flocked Hangers. I replaced every hanger in my closet with one of these bad boys, and not only did it triple my hanging space, but my clothes don’t fall off and end up buried on the floor.

10 boxes of 50 hangers each later, I am well on my way to a picture perfect closet. Sure- I still have to master the accessories (every time I remove a shoe from a shelf, a purse falls on my head), but baby steps, right?

My tip? It is crucial to have a monogamous relationship with your hangers. By using one type only, every item in your closet will hang at the same height which is not only more pleasant to look at, but it saves even more space.

If you are ready to take the plunge (I warn you, these are addictive!), you can order them online here.

Watch my “Today Show” segment on Organization Must-Haves.

Have an organization must-have I should know about? Email me at jennfalik@gmail.com.