divasoria

Ivy Kirzhner is a Filipino-American shoe designer and photographer based in New York City. Ivy is multi-talented and gifted having graduated from the prestigious and highly selective La Guardia high school or commonly known as the FAME high school which calls Erica Jong, Robert de Niro, Steven Bochco, Jennifer Aniston, among its alumni. After high school, she went on to the Fashion Institute of Technology and graduated with a BFA in accessories design.

Since then, Ivy has become a young creative leader in contemporary footwear design where she has lead teams domestically and overseas, and designed footwear lines for Dolce Vita, DV by Dolce Vita, Sweet Life by Dolce Vita, Dolcetta, Pencey, BEBE, Steve Madden, H by Halson, Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic just to name a few. She is currently the Designer and Creative Director of Footwear for BCBGMAXAZRIA at the Camuto Group, where she also works closely alongside the legendary icon and industry patriarch, Vince Camuto.

Apart from being a creative fashion force, she als runs a very popular blog http://www.saintandlibertine.com.
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At home in New York, I do tend to keep quite a maximalist lifestyle, being in fashion and in various creative fields.
However, my grooming essentials are quite simplistic since I travel a lot for work and leisure. I stick to products that are fool-proof and reliable, and I try to keep my daily routine down to a minimum. I also try not to splurge. (My savings go to my photography equipment… and on my designer pieces.

These are the 40 things I love and cannot live without.

My facial routine has not changed much since I was a teenager. I’ve been using almost the same exact products since. Thankfully, I never really had any issues with my skin despite of my age.

1) Clean&Clear Persagel. I apply this on my T-zone after cleansing, even if I don’t have any pimples. It keeps everything under control and it bleaches out blemishes.
2) Neutrogena Healthy Skin Moisturizer. I have been using this since I was a teenager. I’m not ready to move yet.
3) Neutrogena Ageless Intensives. This is a recent add-on to my nightly routine as a aging preventive.
4) Bliss Fabulous Foaming Facewash. I love this cleanser! It cleanses, exfoliates and freshens the skin all at the same time. My skin feels like petals afterwards.
5) Natural Crystal Essence deodorant with Lavender and White Tea Oil. I’m a big fan of all-natural products. This one works awesome!
6) Listerine Mouthwash. As a rule at home, we decant our mouthwash.

7) L’Occitane hand lotions. I actually use these as body lotions as well, since they’re so rich and yummy. They work great especially for my super dry legs and arms.

I’m a big bubble bath buff. Bubble baths are like ice cream. You gotta have different scents of all kinds! Here are some of my absolute favorites:

8) Satu Poppy Showers Bubble Bath.
9) Lollia Sugared Pastilles BubbleBath. This one smells super delicious!
10) L’Occtinate Cherry Blossom Bath Pebbles. Aside for bubble bath soaps, I like to throw in bath salts into the mix. They keep your skin from drying up.
11) Sabon Mineral Powder. (divasoria:I LOVE SABON PRODUCTS!)
12) Sabon Peach Bubble Bath Foam.

I recently got a Japanese hair perm and it’s important that I keep my hair super hydrated and that I use sulfate-free products.
13) Organix Vanilla Silk. This one for general cleansing. It’s also sulfate-free.
14) L’Oreal Sulfate Free, Silicone-Free Smoothing Shampoo. This is what use for my second lather/rinse to smooth and repair.
15) dAvines LOVE Conditoner. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this conditioner from Italy! It smells like babies AND it is super hydrating. You only need a teeny tiny dollop and soon, you can say goodbye to hot oil treatments. It really works!

Styling regiments on top shelf
16) Bumble and Bumble Straight Blow Dry. I use this for when I really want to get that super pin-straight ZEN-like polished hairdo.
17) Organix Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum It smells like coconut, but works great on keeping my hair lush and super strong. Great for when I don’t need to blow dry my hair straight

I alternate between these two products if I want to have that uber Glossy polished look. They both smell incredibly wonderful.
18) CatWalk Camera Ready.
19) BedHead Tigi Head Rush.

I love perfumes. I had been looking for the perfect scent that blended well with my body chemistry. I have amassed quite a few until I tried Chloe. Chloe has become the signature scent for me. It interacts magically and effortlessly with my natural scent… and drives my husband wild! I think that’s when you know you have found the right perfume. Once in a while, I would change it up with the other perfumes I have kept. It all depends on my mood, the season and the occasion. But for everyday, I use Chloe.

20) YSL Babydoll. For flirty days.
21) http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Fragrance-Coco-Mademoiselle-88188
I spray this on whenever I go to some serious occasions in the Fall, like seeing Opera or the Ballet. I relate this scent to velvet and pearls in November.
22) Dior Cherie. This one makes a great Spring/Summer scent.
23) D.S. & Durga Silent Grove & Coriander. I love the smell of Coriander. It’s so fresh and natural and so green. The Silent Grove is actually superbly romantic, yet simply floral at the same time. I wear these two together sometimes.
24) Chloe parfum and lotion. Absolute LOVE!
25) L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Cologne. Another great spring/summer scent.
26) L’Occitane Eau de Miel. I put this on at night as it’s alcohol-free and super mild. It smells like babies!

I have a really simple cosmetics and makeup regiment. Learned from just playing with makeup randomly as a kid.
FACE:
After cleansing and moisturizing, I normally use 27) Bobbi Brown’s concealer with finishing powder and then apply 28) Guerlain powder foundation on top.
For my cheeks, I use a teeny tiny bit 29) Makeup Forever’s HD Tint.

EYES:
For my eyes, I stick to 31) Dior Couture’s Black Flash and Gold Touch eyeshadow, but I would sometimes use 32) Chanel Les 4 Ombres No 14. Then I define my lids with 33) Bobbi Brown’s gel eyeliners with a brush (which is so amazingly fuss-free!!!). Then I finish it off with 34) Guerlains waterproof/smudge-proof double-wand mascara.

LIPS:
For lips, for everyday, I stick to 35) Bobbi Brown’s nude palette. For evening and if I want something more dramatic, I love using red, etiher 36) Chanel no. 14 or 37) Chanel Shanghai Red. Occasionally, I’d go for the hot coral pink 38) YSL Rouge Volupte especially in the springtime.

Other things I use:
39) C.O. Bigelow No.140 Chapped Hands Cleanser. Wintertime is quite brutal in New York and my hands are the first victim. It really leaves your hands feeling suepr moisturized and protected.
40) Crest 3D White. This is the simple secret to a bright fluorescent smile. Seriously, the color of your teeth can make or break any look.

as told to divasoria