CVS Pharmacy Health & Beauty Innovations

In April I attended an interactive brand showcase hosted by CVS Pharmacy. Media and influencer guests got to preview new health & beauty innovations and new products. 

I was really excited about the launch of K-Beauty HQ, started rolling out in April to 2,100 CVS Pharmacy stores nationwide and on CVS.com. With 100+ new and exclusive trendsetting products, CVS Pharmacy has partnered with K-Beauty expert Alicia Yoon, founder of influential K-Beauty e-retailer, Peach & Lily, to curate the selection. 

Four exclusive brands you'll find within K-Beauty HQ at CVS include Alicia Yoon's own Peach Slices, waterless fruit-based Frudia skincare, Elisha Coy with naturally-derived effective ingredients such as snail mucin to help replenish skin's moisture and support cell regeneration, and pore-focused JJYoung by Caolion, with masks that steam and cool for facials on the go. 

Also new to CVS Pharmacy is K-Beauty brand Ariul, with their exclusive EGG Collection, which is infused with egg oil to help reduce inflammation, boost elasticity and fight free radicals for a radiant, brighter complexion. Other K-Beauty brands with a presence at the new K-Beauty HQ include The Saem, Holika Holika and additional collections from Ariul. 

Beauty and skincare brands at the preview included MUA, Mineral Fusion, Wunder2, Vichy, Skinfix, and Pacific Shaving. As for vitamins and dietary supplements, I was happy to see new products from Zarbee's and Emergen-C. I've recently been trying out the Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies too, which supports immunity. I love the berry flavor and I've been looking for a supplement that supports the immune system so I think I may have to take this regularly from now on!

I also love stocking up on snacks at CVS, especially for the office. Some of my new favorites include Larabar Chocolate Macaroon Bites, Go Raw Choco Crunch Sprouted Cookies, barkTHINS, Fig Bar and Emmy's Organic Vanilla Bean Organic Coconut Cookies.

- Kim Weling

Celebrating 2016 with Loacker Chocolate Specialties

Indulging in Loacker chocolate specialties is the perfect way to celebrate the new year with friends and family. I had recently shared an assortment of Loacker chocolate bars, wafer cookies and biscuits with my relatives over the holidays, and they were excited to try them and pair with coffee. 

There were a few items that were addictive, including the Crème Noisette fine milk chocolate biscuits with hazelnut cream and the Fogliette crispy milk chocolate specialty. The favorite by far was the Rose of the Dolomites 24-pack, which is packaged in a beautiful gold box containing original, white and dark chocolate. Since I love milk chocolate, this was my favorite, sweet and creamy with hazelnut cream. It's impossible to eat just one! 

Quadratini Hazelnut, Tiramisu and Raspberry-Yoghurt bite size wafer cookies are the perfect little snack to tie you over between meals. I keep these on my office desk and reach for them when I get a sweet craving! Sandwich Milk-Vanilla and Chocolate crispy wafers (with 71% cream) are great for sharing and snacking with friends, preferably with coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Loacker has so many different options and varieties, whether your favorite is milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or hazelnut. 

Look for Loacker at your local Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Duane Reade and Eataly, and World Market stores. 

- Kim Weling

Gourmet Snacks for Summer

Here are some of my favorite gourmet snacks for summer, from cheese to meat snacks and wafer crisps:

I am obsessed with Sartori Cheese, which I like to pair with wine or fruit. I've tried several of Sartori Reserve's distinct flavors, including SarVecchio Parmesan, Chai BellaVitano and Espresso BellaVitano, and look forward to trying Rosemary & Olive Oil Asiago and Limited Edition Extra-Aged Goat Cheese. 

34 Degrees Sweet Crisps are available in four sweet flavors - Caramel, Chocolate, Cinnamon and Graham. These wafer-thin crisps can be paired with cheese, fruit spreads, Nutella, peanut butter, ice cream or frozen yogurt.  

Krave Jerky has unique and savory flavors, with Basil Citrus turkey jerky at the top of my list. Other exotic flavors include Black Cherry BBQ, Chili Lime, Garlic Chili Pepper, Lemon Garlic, Pineapple Orange, Smoky Teriyaki and Sweet Chipotle.

Simply Snackin 100% all-natural meat snacks are great for on-the-go, combining lean sirloin or whole chicken breasts with dried fruits such as apples, cranberries, blueberries and pineapples or black beans and vegetables like jalapenos and shallots. Simply Snackin comes in six varieties: Dried Chicken Breast with Black Bean Salsa, Dried Beef Sirloin with Apples & Cherries, Dried Beef Sirloin with Cranberries and Blueberries, Teriyaki Dried Beef Sirloin with Pineapples, Dried Chicken Breast with Italian Style Seasoning and Romano Cheese and Teriyaki Dried Chicken Breast with Mangoes & Papayas.

- Kim Weling