Nordgreen

I had a chance to check out Nordgreen, a Scandinavian watch company from Copenhagen. Their watches were conceptualized by design veteran Jakob Wagner, who had worked for Bang & Olufsen, Alessi, B&B Italia, and Muuto.

Native watch with white dial and gold mesh strap ($194).

The company is also passionate about giving back to the community, which can be appealing for many conscious consumers. Each purchase allows us to make a donation to a charity (choose from 3 options). You can read more about it here. 

 Infinity watch with dove grey vegan leather strap ($209).

I got to review the Native watch ($184), which is a well-made, classic minimalist style. Each piece can be paired with interchangeable straps, so you can buy extra colors to match your outfits! They also offer vegan straps for those who are seeking an eco-friendly alternative. 

Native watch with black dial and pink leather strap ($184).

Shipping was super fast; I received mine within a few days. There is a 2-year warranty for their products. 

Available at Nordgreen.com. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Kiehl's Grooming Solutions for Men

Just in time for Father's Day, Kiehl's launched a new Grooming Solutions line for men. The six-piece body and haircare collection features a beard grooming oil, body soap, styling gel, cream wax, texturizing clay, and a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner. 

The Exfoliating Body Soap ($15, 7oz) contains jojoba seed powder and pumice to buff away rough skin while pracaxi oil conditions the skin. The light cedarwood and sandalwood fragrance makes it especially appealing.

The Texturizing Clay ($18) is made with Moroccan lava clay to let you style and define hair without weighing it down. The scent is barely noticeable so it's great for those who don't like strong fragrances. 

The Nourishing Shampoo + Conditioner ($8-$50) lets you skip the conditioning step. Free of sulfates and silicone, the gentle formula has arginine to nourish the scalp. 

If you order by June 12 you get free shipping and gift wrapping, so hurry on over to www.kiehls.com.

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Cosmetic Acupuncture at Union Center for Healing

This past spring, I was invited to try Cosmetic Acupuncture at the Union Center for Healing in Seattle. I've never done this before and was excited to see what my results could be. While it's not a replacement for Botox or other cosmetic fillers, this is a non-invasive, holistic alternative to look more youthful in a natural way.

What makes UCFH's treatments unique is that they focus on your overall constitution, not just the face. Health factors, stress, diet, and environmental stressors inevitably show up on your complexion. For example, if you have liver issues, it will show up on your upper cheek area. With that in mind, your acupuncturist will offer lifestyle advice to improve your results. 

Ten weekly sessions are recommended but twice weekly is ideal for those with advanced aging. Electro stimulation may be included as needed. I noticed initial results after a few sessions and by the tenth one my forehead looked visibly smoother. It didn't erase all the fine lines but my face looked more toned and had a vibrant glow. My overall health and vitality has also improved, so it's a win-win.

The first 90-minute visit is $150, a 60-minute return visit is $120. A package of five is $525, ten is $1,000.

Union Center for Healing is located at 2100 East Union Street (206-329-2060). For more info: unioncenterforhealing.com/cosmetic-acupuncture. 

For editorial consideration, review treatments were provided by the brand.

Claus Porto Soaps

When I was in Portugal I fell in love with the luxurious handmade soaps from Claus Porto, which has been around since 1887. I adore artwork from the Belle Epoque and Art Deco periods so their hand-drawn labels and in-house vintage graphic designs made me love them all the more. 

The company still makes their soap with traditional, old-world methods so the quality is quite exceptional. They last a long time and the fragrance will still be there until the very end. In other words, it's pretty hard to buy just one bar.

The revamped Musgo Real collection is designed for men but the body soap collection is very approachable with their unisex fragrances. The Orange Amber ($12/€10.00), which has notes of sweet mandarin, bergamot, and amber, is my favorite. Each one contains shea butter and walnut oil to boost moisturizing properties. 

Available at clausporto.com

Goodbeing Beauty Subscription Box

The beauty world is saturated with subscription boxes, but Goodbeing is an excellent one to try if you enjoy natural beauty and wellness products. Each product is curated with ingredient purity and efficacy in mind. For $21 a month, you can customize your selection (choose 1-2 products) or opt out and be surprised. Members also fill out a profile to further personalize their subscription. 

I received a box of five products, which were a mix of popular and niche brands. I got a 1 oz. bottle of Dr. Hauschka Rose Nurturing Body Oil, a 1 oz. Osea Ocean Cleanser, a 1 oz. Annmarie Skin Care Rosemary Peppermint Body Wash, 1 gram of Pure Anada mineral eyeshadow in champagne, and a Daily Concepts Your Dual Texture Scrubber. This is definitely a high-quality box of goodies and it's a great value for $21. If you choose the annual subscription it brings the price down to $18/month.

For more info: joingoodbeing.com

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Rikumo Kitchenware

I'm always admiring the gorgeous Japanese kitchen tools and homeware from Rikumo. Based in PA, the thoughtfully curated boutique also sells their products online, making it a dangerous retail pastime. Everything offered is built to last and is sourced from talented Japanese artisans.

I've already invested in the soft Imabari hand towels, so now I've got my eye on the Futagami solid brass trivets ($70-$92). Not only are they durable and well-made, they can double as home decor. I just love the Galaxy and Sun designs—so ornate yet minimalist at the same time. 

I first noticed the Hasami porcelain plates ($10-$60.50) last year and had mentally placed them on a wish list. This particular one features the Gloss finish, a pale green glaze. It comes in different sizes so you can use them for dining and/or decor. 

These precious glass bottles ($40) are for storing soy sauce. They're made with a special aburidashi glassmaking technique, resulting in various opalescent designs. This type of glassware is pretty rare in Japan, making it even more special. 

Available at rikumo.com.

Recchiuti Confections Tweet Truffles

Mother's Day is just around the corner, so don't forget to get Mom some adorable treats from Recchiuti Confections. This year they're offering the charmingly cute Tweet Truffles ($26, 9 pieces). These new hand-illustrated birds adorn the popular and delicious Burnt Caramel chocolate truffles, bringing a smile to everyone. Pick up a box or two before they sell out!

Available at both SF retail locations (Ferry Building and Little Nib) and www.recchiuti.com. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Galison Stationery Gifts

Designed for the stationery lover, Galison has a new fall lineup that would be great for stocking stuffers. These Sticky Notes ($10.99) by Lena Corwin and Fawnsberg will brighten up any office desk. Each portfolio contains 480 stickers. 

Don't forget the pens. These black ballpoint Pen Sets ($9.99) by Cooper Hewitt and Fawnsberg make a colorful splash in any setting. Plus, they're totally budget-friendly. 

The hardcover Clothbound Journals ($12.99) are well-made. Available in three styles, each one contains 160 lined pages.

Available at www.galison.com.

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Aftelier Vanilla Smoke Perfume

As commercial fragrances often use synthetic vanilla in their formulations, I've never liked anything made with it. However, the new Vanilla Smoke from Aftelier Perfumes totally changed my mind about the inclusion of this precious spice.

The unisex fragrance opens with the bold smokiness of lapsang souchong, but it soon tempers down to offer up the lusicious Madagascan vanilla. A seductive invitation in itself, the masterful addition of Siam wood, yellow mandarin, saffron and ambergris balance it out, resulting in a sexy perfume like no other. Like a true love affair, the more I indulge in it, the more I fall in love with it. All in all, another thoughtful and elegant creation from the amazing Mandy Aftel. 

Available in Liquid Perfume (1/4 oz, $180), Eau de Parfum (1 oz, $180) and Miniature Perfume (2 ml, $50) at www.aftelier.com. 

For editorial consideration, review product was provided by the brand.

Seven Beef

Seven Beef, the newest restaurant from Sophie and Eric Banh, opened last month with great fanfare. The gorgeous steakhouse specializes in dry-aged beef from local producer Heritage Meats as well as a modern version of Bò 7 Món, a Vietnamese seven-course beef dinner ($35/person). 

Image credits: Geoffrey Smith

Steak is the main star but the seafood dishes are worth a try. The oysters with green apple foam ($12) is a light and refreshing way to start the evening. Depending on what's available, you'll get select Penn Cove or Kussi oysters. In fact, if you like seafood the majority of the appetizer selection is geared towards the fruits of the sea.

Steamed clams with turmeric, coconut milk, galangal, chorizo ($12).

Large parties can partake in the 48-ounce Côte de Boeuf ($120) or the 38-ounce Porterhouse ($99). The menu also features a Seven Seas Stew ($24) and Grilled Half Chicken ($21) if you're not in the mood for red meat.

Burnt acorn squash with goat cheese, mint and arugula ($12).

Definitely make room for dessert. The signature Valrhona 72% dark chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting will tempt your sweet tooth, as well as an assortment of French macarons (special order only, $2-3 each). We tasted the foie gras, nutella and caramel flavors and all are equally divine.

For reservations and more info, go to www.sevenbeef.com.

For editorial consideration, a press visit was provided by the restaurant.