Fragrance makers like to tell stories, maybe because perfume is invisible and often incomprehensible. So we end up with overheated reveries about places, encounters, superstitions, and romances. Lore, a new fragrance brand from veterans of Rhode, Milk Makeup, and Youth to the People, describes its collection as “an extension of soul…a wish for truth…shouted out loud”—whatever that means. If you can get past the folderol and into the scents themselves, you’ll find some enticing creations. Disfruta has a smoky mescal citrus air. Somewhere but nowhere, which the company calls “an ode to Americana, grit, lonesomeness, and grace” (I have no idea), is a woody mix with notes of black tea and vanilla. The stories may be mystifying, but the Lore scents are a breath of fresh air. ($88, lore.world) —Linda Wells

Australians are tough on their skin—but it’s not their fault; it’s the sun’s. That’s why Rationale, the beloved Australian skin-care brand, focuses on solar damage and how to treat it. Now, the Rationale scientists are bringing that thinking to body care, with a cleanser and cream packed with vitamins, niacinamide, antioxidant-rich Australian berries, ceramides, and lipids. Both products protect and strengthen the skin barrier, leaving behind the zippy scent of sweet orange. They’re clearly winners: Both sold out within days of their U.S. launch. ($37 for the body cleanser; $48 for the body cream, us.rationale.com) —Holly Parmelee

Do you need another tinted lip balm? Probably not. But when did that stop anyone from searching for the impossible: one with the ideal balance of pigment, shine, softness, and hydration? La Mer may have the answer with The Lip Treatment, a definitively named group of four lipstick/balm hybrids. They’re fortified with oils and butters that melt on the lips along with the storied La Mer brew that helps strengthen the moisture barrier, plus the added zing of mint. There are three simple, perfect shades—rose, honey, and cocoa—plus one colorless balm, and I want them all. They might be my new favorites. Just don’t tell the other six lipsticks rolling around in my bag. ($80, lamer.com) —Linda Wells

No self-respecting luxury hotelcan open these days without a sparkling spa, wellness center, and longevity tech. The newly renovated Waldorf Astoria delivers on all counts with the Guerlain spa, 22,000 square feet of wall-to-wall pampering. It offers cryotherapy, sleep treatments, skin enhancements, sound vibrations, and a host of other indulgences, including multi-day wellness programs. Many of the ministrations are inspired by the city, including a deep massage that’s “born from the effervescent energy of Manhattan.” I trust it bears no resemblance to the 6 Train at rush hour. Guerlain also has a machine that delivers LED light, microcurrent, micropeel, ultrasound, cryotherapy, and radiofrequency in one system. And if that’s not enough, feel free to slip on virtual reality goggles and let your mind wander through nature, far from all that effervescent energy of Manhattan. (Treatments start at $189, waldorfastorianewyork.com) —Linda Wells

One of the spiciest and most well-informed dermatologists in New York has a product that I’m adding to my skincare routine immediately. It’s a serum filled with enzymes that help repair the DNA that’s damaged by the sun. Those enzymes, based on Nobel Prize-winning science, are combined with liposomes to work on the skin. The pioneer on that development says the enzymes even out skin tone and reduce skin pre-cancers and cancers. They also decrease wrinkles. I’m now starting my morning with Dr. Gendler’s smartDRops, which I apply to clean skin before a moisturizer and sunscreen. At night, they go on after a retinol. And now, I feel smarter already. ($85, gendlerdermatology.com) —Linda Wells

Every winter, more Americans are flocking to Europe to ski. Now, they have a new ski-in/ski-out hotel to lust after: Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin, nestled in the French Alps. Designed as a contemporary chalet with beamed wooden ceilings, Eames-y chairs, and sculptural, bouclé-covered sofas, its 51 rooms and suites present panoramic views of the ski area, Les Trois Vallées. Recovering from a raucous day en piste? The Asaya spa has all sorts of solutions, from a cryotherapy-assisted massage to high-tech facials that include oxygen infusions and LED light therapies. Those who prefer to sit out the ski experience entirely are encouraged to while away an entire afternoon there, interspersing Pilates classes with reiki treatments and sound baths. Escapism at its finest! (rooms from $2,500 per night; rosewoodhotels.com) —Ashley Baker