Tired feet, aching muscles and stilettos do not help during the steam train course that’s Fashion Week. So when we heard that there was an oasis in the desert called Robert Verdi’s CVS Reinventing Beauty Luxelab Lounge to take us away from the tigers, we pounced.

I was actually curious to see what CVS had done for this beauty lab since I am also Editor of their Reinventing Beauty Magazine (shameless plug: you can pick it up at Rite Aid and CVS stores and it’s only 99 cents!). But I’ve always been a huge fan of Robert and his tastes.

First off: his pad is absolutely gorgeous and has a huge TV screen that’s always playing an Audrey Hepburn movie:

Second, upon entering, we were fed with delicious food and drinks from the unparalleled Blue Print Cleanse (this red pepper vegan soup is probably the best I’ve tasted):

We got access to beautiful makeovers and manis (here I’m getting my face touched up by sporting lots of CoverGirl makeup, and wearing my brand new Sally Hansen HD mani):

We had a tour of CVS Beauty Exclusives that includes Mission Skincare’s new lip balm:

Plus, with a view like this, who needs Central Park?

In our goody bags, we received:

CVS Oil Absorbing Sheets, Lumene Time Freeze Instant Cooling Eyestick, Essence of Beauty Jasmine Ginger Hand Cream, Mission Skincare Serena Williams SPF Lip Balm, Colgate WISP, Covergirl Lash Blast Length Mascara and Outlast LipStain, and (thank god) a Lint Roller.

Did I mention, oasis?