Shiseido Ocean Collection: Summer 2010

This summer get the hottest neutral look with a splash of shimmer from Shiseido. Makeup artistic director, Dick Page presents Shiseido’s ‘The Makeup’ Summer 2010 Ocean collection. ‘The Makeup’ Luminizing Satin Face Color in Shell provides a bronze, natural glow that lasts all day. Brighten eyes with ‘The Makeup’ Luminizing Satin Eye Color in Ocean Sunset. This delicate gold shadow looks great on all skin tones and pairs perfectly with ‘The Makeup’ Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil in Black Sand. Line your upper lids in this matte black liner and then lightly smudge for a just-home-from-the-beach look.  My favorite part of this line is ‘The Makeup’ Luminizing Lip gloss in Rainbow. This gloss is intense! Really shiny, not at all sticky, and this color is a sheer gloss infused with gorgeous glitter. I have been wearing it every day and it has both staying power and great moisturizing properties. Not to mention the sparkle! If you are going out at night, keep the look, but add the ‘Perfect Rouge’ Lipstick in Red Triton.

Shiseido cosmetics are available in most fine department stores, or shop online for the Ocean Collection at Nordstrom
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Interview with Dr. Francisco Colon: Your top skin care questions answered

After my wonderful skincare appointment with Judie at the Peer Group Center for Plastic Surgery, I met with Dr. Francisco Colon for a question and answer session. I felt so lucky to be able to ask all my burning skin care questions one-on-one to a top plastic surgeon.

To start, I asked Dr. Colon to explain the differences between medical facials, as offered at his center, and spa facials. Basically, his reply was that medical facials are results-based, scientific, and the basis for developing an ongoing skincare regimen. Clinicians that perform medical facials are much better trained to deal with skincare concerns including brown spots, wrinkles, and uneven texture, and they have the luxury of a doctor right there when needed. Dr. Colon suggested asking yourself the question ‘What do I want from a facial?’ If you are looking for purely relaxation, then perhaps a spa facial is right for you. However, if you are interested in addressing your skin care concerns and developing an ongoing skin care regimen, then medical facials are the way to go.

As a woman that loves to care for my skin, and now entering my mid-thirties, I was especially eager to learn what young women in their 20’s and 30’s can do to prevent the signs of aging. Dr. Colon said that the best thing you can do is to be healthy, protect your skin, use sun block and don’t smoke. Maintaining healthy, youthful skin can be achieved by managing and preventing acne and scarring, exfoliating and moisturizing. This is yet another benefit to medical facials. A common procedure during a medical facial is micro-dermabrasion, which removes dead cells, thereby allowing better penetration of moisturizers.

With all the buzz about the new Juvederm XC, I wanted to get more information from Dr. Colon. This filler sounds so versatile, and what I learned is that it can be used to change features. Fuller lips and cheeks are possible, as well as filling in lines related to aging. Dr. Colon explained that this HA filler offers rejuvenation without surgery, quick recovery with minimal complications and lasts on average one year.

One of my biggest skin care concerns is dark under eye circles. Dr. Colon explained to me that there is no quick fix for dark circles, and the best thing is to be evaluated by a surgeon. Depending on whether the discoloration is caused by an anatomical condition, hyper-pigmentation, or vascular issues the course of treatment would differ.

How many moms out there long for their pre-baby body back?! It is possible to regain your shape with ‘mommy makeovers’. Dr. Colon stressed that the best way to regain your pre-baby body is to be fit before pregnancy, monitor a healthy weight gain during your pregnancy, and to utilize diet and exercise for a year after your last pregnancy. If after that year, you still are unhappy with your body, you should see a surgeon to discuss your options, including anatomical repairs and restoring normal anatomy. Popular components to the mommy makeover are procedures on the breasts and stomach.

Rounding up my interview with Dr. Colon, I asked what women can do in between their medical facial appointments and he recommends sunscreen for everyone, as well as following your customized skin care regimen. Depending on what your clinician recommends, it can include exfoliating agents, Retin-A, or bleaching agents.

I can’t say enough about my wonderful experience at the Peer Group Center for Plastic Surgery in New Jersey. If you want to make an appointment for a medical facial or consultation with a surgeon, call 973-822-3000 or visit their website at http://www.peergroupnj.com/ for more information.

 

Mizu Salon offers What’s Haute readers a ‘Breakfast Blow Dry’ special!

Mizu Salon in NYC is a full-service, high end hair salon offering the utmost in quality hair care and products. Opened a few years ago by Vaughn Acord and Damian Santiago of bumble and bumble fame, Mizu is gorgeous both architechtually and aesthetically. If you are looking for a top-notch artistic team with stylists that specialize in cut, color, styling, extensions, keratin treatment, and Japanese straightening, look no further than Mizu Salon.

Always striving to please their clients, Mizu has started offering ‘Breakfast Blow Dries’ for those looking to get their hair blown out before a big meeting or day at work. Mizu opens the salon at 7:30am, Monday-Friday, and clients are treated to coffee, tea and cappuccinos while getting their hair done. If you need to recharge with breakfast, Mizu can order it for you from a local café and have it added to your bill. Now that is what I call a stress-free morning!

Breakfast Blow Dries are $65 at Mizu Salon on 505 Park Avenue in NYC, but What’s Haute readers can mention ‘whatshaute‘ and get a Breakfast Blow Dry for $50!

Call 212-688-6498 and reserve your appointment.  Hurry, this special pricing will only be available through September 1, 2010.

Ramona Singer jewelry for HSN at Mizu Salon NYC

I’ve been so impressed with Ramona Singer’s jewelry line for HSN. With each collection she offers, I find new and exciting pieces I want to add to my jewelry box. While her latest line isn’t available just yet, she did offer a sneak preview at the impressive Mizu Salon NYC on April 27th. Amid the luxurious Park Avenue salon, guests viewed the gorgeous jewelry, as they mixed and mingled with Ramona, her daughter Avery and the salon’s owners, Vaughn Acord and Damian Santiago. In addition, attendees were treated to complimentary blowouts by Mizu’s artistic team. While you wait for Ramona’s new collection to debut, visit HSN.com to shop her current collection. For all of you New York readers, stay tuned for a great offer from Mizu Salon in NYC exclusively for What’s Haute readers!

Treat your Skin with Wembe natural soaps

I must admit, with the wave of body washes hitting the shelves, I’d pretty much abandoned bar soaps. When I learned about Wembe, the Paraguayan company that handcrafts all-natural soaps with ingredients from the rainforest, I was very excited to give bar soaps another try. Upon receiving my package of soaps, I was floored by the invigorating scent, and the gorgeous handmade bars with layers of natural, gorgeous ingredients. I decided to try the Loofah Exfoliating bar first, as it looked like a slice of heaven. Almond oil mixed into natural vegetable sponge makes a great combo, and I loved it in the shower. The scent is intoxicating, and the exfoliation and moisturizing properties of the bar are top-notch.

Reading about the company and how natural they are got me thinking about how ‘green’ bar soaps are. There is no wasteful package left over when you finish the bar. These soaps are a great way to pamper your skin while reducing your carbon footprint at the same time. If you need a hostess gift, wedding shower gift, or just want to stock your guest bathroom, I’d recommend the gorgeous soaps from Wembe.

The second bar I tried was the Yerba Mate Exfoliating Blend. Again, the scent was amazing. My skin felt like silk after using it, and the exfoliating properties are intensified by the addition of ground yerba mate, which is full of antioxidants. These soaps stimulate your mind as well as your skin, and I think I’ve become a bar soap convert! I can’t get enough of the natural goodness that is Wembe. Check them out online and if you want to purchase some of the soaps, click here.

Give your body a treat while going ‘green’ with Wembe!

My medical facial at the Peer Group for Plastic Surgery

I was very excited as I headed into New Jersey last month for my skincare appointment at the Peer Group for Plastic Surgery in Florham Park, New Jersey. I was on a quest to learn first-hand about medical facials. Up until now, I had only enjoyed spa facials and this was my first visit to a medical facility for beauty treatments. The office looked very inviting and upon arriving, I met my aesthetician Judie. She was really welcoming and very knowledgeable about skincare. I immediately realized one big advantage to visiting a medical facility for skincare-you will get personalized treatment that will leave your skin looking its personal best. Spa facials are nice and relaxing, but they are fairly predictable and not so in-depth at addressing your skins’ needs. Right from the start of my skincare appointment with Judie, the consultation and treatments were personalized to my skin.

The first step was a question and answer about my skin and my general health. Then we entered another room and I was introduced to the Visia Complexion Analysis System. This was very enlightening for me, as it is a computer-controlled machine which scans your face and gives you an instant analysis of its condition. Using multi-spectral imaging, the Visia analyzes key areas including surface spots, UV spots, brown spots, red areas, wrinkles, texture, pores and porphyrins (bacteria). I was given a printout of my analysis and Judie went over what the results meant. All in all, I think the Visia showed that I am taking good care of my skin; however, I was able to see issues below the surface that I could work on improving through skin care.

After cleaning my face, which I must say was quite relaxing, Judie recommended microplaning for my skin. It entails using a scalpel to scrape the skin, removing the dead top layer. I was excited to try this process, as I’d never heard of it before. Judie prepped my face and then got to work, and let me just say, this was so relaxing and calming, I almost fell asleep. It was very gentle scraping and I did not feel anything painful, it was very comfortable. After the procedure, my skin looked visibly more even-toned. Dark under eye circles were noticeably lighter. And my skin felt as soft as a newborn baby.

After my skin care appointment, I met with one of the plastic surgeons for a question and answer session. I had never been to a plastic surgery office and wouldn’t have thought to seek out medically-supervised skin care. I now see that it is amazing and I urge you to give it a try as well. It was as relaxing as a spa treatment, but really aimed at working on the skin to heal damage and address issues on an ongoing basis. I was very impressed with this appointment, and with the Peer Group. Stay tuned for a recap of my interview with Dr. Francisco Colon.

Achieve Instant Gratification Naturally with EGF Reactivator skincare

Wrinkles are stressful and the worry over wrinkles causes more wrinkles, so what’s a girl to do? I recently was introduced to EGF Reactivator skin care products which are formulated with Epidermal Growth Factor, a substance proven for almost 50 years to stimulate the growth of skin cells. Using this skin care adds EGF to depleted skin, giving it instant renewal. Repeated use of EGF has no side effects, and because it is a human derivative containing 53 amino acids, it has been shown to reverse the signs of aging by enhancing the regeneration of the skin.

I decided to give EGF Reactivator a try, and I started using the Wrinkle Firming Serum twice a day. What I love about this product is the instant gratification. Upon application, I noticed visible changes in the smoothness and texture of my skin, and fine lines were less noticeable. My make-up went on smoother, and my face felt like silk. With each day of use, the results were intensified. The serum is an intensive treatment that works by relaxing the tension in the face, hence making it a perfect alternative to injectable procedures. It works short-term, but provides increased benefits the longer you continue with it. I found the serum to be lightweight, fresh-smelling and very comfortable.

With a full line of skincare containing EGF, I think these product show great promise and are really worth a try. Are you finally ready to stop fretting over fine lines? Click here to learn more about what’s available from EGF Reactivator and then order online at DietJuice.com.

NeuLash: Give Mom the gift of gorgeous lashes this Mother’s Day

Looking for a Mother’s Day gift that will wow your mom?

What do you get the mom that loves the gift of beauty but has everything?

How about longer, fuller, more gorgeous lashes?

neuLash has an exclusive Mother’s Day gift set at Saks Fifth Avenue stores that includes a tube of neuLash, a brow pencil, and an eyebrow and eyelash brush. Priced at $150, this set is so great and will get you (or your mom) on the road to longer, healthier lashes.

I was recently introduced to neuLash and I am totally hooked! Just brush a thin layer of the serum on the upper lids before bed, and the serum’s moisturizers, vitamins and replenishing ingredients work to strengthen and renew the lashes. With regular use, lashes appear, fuller, longer and darker. I’ve been using the serum for a little over two weeks now, and my lashes are noticeably longer and stronger. I no longer have eyelashes that fall out when I remove my make-up at night, and even without mascara, my lashes are close to touching my face when I blink!

I am so impressed with this product that I went to Saks earlier this week and bought the Mother’s Day gift set for myself! If you’ve been on the fence about the various lash-building serums out there, go for this gift set and give it a try. Grab one for Mom too!

Mona Nacci: Using natural Phyto cells to rejuvenate your skin

I love trying new skin care lines. With so many promises to plump up wrinkles and erase dark circles, each time I start a new regimen, I have hope.

I had never heard of Mona Nacci, but after reading the brochure, I was very intrigued and excited to give the line a try. After the discovery of an apple with self-healing properties in Switzerland, the chemicals in the apple were identified as Phyto Cell. Clinically proven to help your stem cells regenerate, Mona Nacci incorporates Phyto Cell, which leaves a healthy, smooth, and younger appearance to your skin. The formulation is hypo-allergenic with no parabens, fragrances, or synthetic ingredients and chock-full of multi-peptides to fight the signs of aging.

I have been using the Mona Nacci skin care line for about a month now, and I am pleased to say the products live up to their claims. After cleansing, I use the Phyto Stem Cell Total Intensive Cream as a moisturizer on my face. I have noticed a smoother appearance with a more even skin tone, fading of discolorations and reduction in fine lines. I follow up with the Phyto Stem Cell Intensive Eye Cream and I must say, this is my favorite product in the line. I have dealt with under eye discoloration and dark circles for a few years now, and after a month of use, I have noticed a big reduction in the dark discoloration. My under eyes are brighter, fine lines are diminished, and the skin is smoother and plumper. I follow both these steps with the Phyto Intensive Active Essence, and I dot it all over and smooth it into my skin with light pats. A little goes a long way with the essence, and I feel it is like a miracle serum. The multi-peptide complex works at renewing your stem cells, thus restoring the beauty in your skin.

All three products are fresh, light and glide onto skin like silk. With the results I noticed in just a month, I’m excited to continue incorporating these products into my skin care routine. Visit www.monanacci.com for an even more information about Mona Nacci, as well as the history of Phyto Cell. If you want to try the products, click to order here.

Spa Week 2010: April 12-18

Get ready for Spa Week!

Not sure what that is? It is a week devoted to pampering yourself with affordable $50 spa treatments. Many spas across the country are participating in this year’s Spa Week, which runs from April 12-18.

To get started, visit spaweek.com and check out all the spas in your area that are offering $50 spa treatments. Then, give them a call and book your appointments. That’s it!

Renew yourself this spring with some great spa days that won’t break the bank. I already have my facial and massage booked and I totally can’t wait!

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