This summer, think of your backyard as the next decorating frontier. Use designer-quality furniture, rugs, lighting and charming decorative accents for stunning results.

When Nicki Myers’ son, Reece, was 18 months old, he itched so much he bled from scratching. Reece suffers from eczema, a non-contagious, inflammatory skin condition that may be caused by an array of triggers. “He had a moderate to severe rash on his lower legs and arms that became so inflamed and irritated he would scratch in his sleep,” says Myers. “He’d wake up with open wounds, and it was quite hard to manage.” The Ladue mom recalls slathering her child’s legs with various prescription and over-the-counter creams and ointments, and then wrapping them with gauze and compression bandages to prevent Reece from continuing to scratch.

The Baldwin Report

Looking for a new signature scent? Lucky for you, we’ve had a preview of the season’s most indulgent fragrances—and we’d be happy to give you the scoop!

Whether you prefer your shower in the morning or at bedtime, there’s nothing like the fresh, clean scent of soap to invigorate (or relax) your senses. So go ahead and lather up! 

The Baldwin Report

Tradition isn’t everything when it comes to beauty and skincare, but when that tradition encompasses a commitment to excellence, it gives the customer reassurance that she’ll always be in good hands. Founded in 1828, Guerlain is a company with a rich history. We spoke recently with Marie Line Patry, the company’s national director of beauty and fragrance.

A lot of my gardening inspiration comes from visiting botanical gardens around the world in my travels with Peter. This column is being written while we are on the road with the Missouri Botanical Garden group in southern China. In this part of the world— Yunnan—there are images of elephants everywhere: in fresco, embroidery and sculpture. No live ones have presented themselves to us on this trip, but we have seen some stunningly huge annuals and perennials in these warm, tropical garden zones. Combining these two thoughts brought to mind the lyrics of Oklahoma with the line, “The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye.” So, with inspiration from the gardens at our sister institutions in Xishuangbanna and Kunming, Julie and I have selected a suite of bodacious specimens for the back of the border or center of a very large planting island.

You’ve opened the bottle. Now, how do you get the most pleasure from the fruit of a winemaker’s labor? Did you bring the bottle to its proper temperature prior to opening? This, among other tips, will help you to enjoy your next glass of wine to its full potential.

Whether you call it eczema or dermatitis, you’ll know if you have it from the red, swollen, itchy skin that characterizes this common dermatological problem.

Spring is here early this year. Soon, the ‘jade lilly’ blossoms of the Yulan magnolias (Magnolia denudata) will be in bloom. In China, it is most often planted in temple gardens where its graceful simplicity contrasts beautifully with the detailed architecture. If you are a Chinese herbalist, you will look beyond the elegant, white butterfly flowers on this mid-sized tree, to see the living treatment of x¯inyíh¯a, where these flower buds are harvested, dried and prepared by extraction or powdered, and then used to treat nasal problems like rhinitis, sinusitis and the colds.

The holidays are here, bringing with them the fragrance of mulling, chestnuts roasting, evergreen trees and home-cooked meals shared with loved ones. It’s also the season for gifting...

Some of the best gifts are ones that make the recipient feel beautiful. We asked Christina Polychroni, senior director of marketing and brand communication at L’Occitane, about the season’s top gift items, as well as how to take care of your skin throughout the winter months.

Sometimes, all it takes is that one unforgettable impression.

MAGICAL MOON VINE

Probably the largest part of your wedding’s floral budget will be the centerpieces. Yes, each table should have one. Many brides try to coordinate the centerpieces with the bridesmaids’ dress color, but there is no iron-clad rule that says you must.

Ladies, we know you’re out there: Those of you who don’t care much for heavy, heady perfume. But before you turn up your nose, we present our choices for light, everyday fragrances—enough to make your mark without overdoing or overwhelming.

Looking at a wall full of fantastic perfumes, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To get the inside scoop on choosing the one that’s right for you—or for a gift—we turned to the fragrance expert for Sephora St. Louis Galleria, Andrew Reich. With six years in the field of cosmetics and certification from The Fragrance Foundation, along with training from Sephora University, Reich offers tips that won’t steer you wrong.

Late-summer heat and humidity pose a challenge for those seeking luxurious locks. To help solve this problem, we talked to Carol’s Daughter founder Lisa Price about hair care and her new Manoi line, which uses a rare Tahitian oil to moisturize frazzled hair.