Archives for June 2021

Photo Credit: Courtesy of DSW | Chrishell Stause

Summer=increased heat and humidity and less makeup…so brows have to be on point.  A must have is a waterproof brow enhancer that can sculpt a beautiful shape, define and stay put!  Boom Boom, owner of Boom Boom Brow Bar, shares how to create the perfect summer brow.

“The summer brow is all about a longer length, longer hair and a more undone texture, and the best way to create it is with a tinted waterproof brow gel, so that all the hair can be highlighted to create the look,” explains Boom Boom.

How to: Waterproof Summer Brow

• Grow brows long and get a professional shaping
• Get a tint to darken all hair – even the baby ones, it makes brows look so much fuller and lasts 4-6 weeks
• Brush brows up with the spoolie end of Boom Boom Tinted Brow Gel.  Special fibers in the gel add volume, length and fill in sparse areas with a waterproof and smudge resistant finish for long-lasting results.  Fibers can even adhere to bare skin and cover gray hair!
• 

Boom Boom Tinted Brow Gel ($24/.22 oz).  Comes in 2 universally flattering colors:

Sooo Warm – for blondes with warm undertones, strawberry blondes, redheads and brunettes with golden/reddish highlights.  Sooo Cool – for blondes with undertones of ash, dark brunettes and black hair.

Formulated Without: PARABENS, GLUTEN, PHTHALATES, HORMONES, PROSTAGLANDINS, OIL, FRAGRANCE, SULFATES, GMO, SILICONE, CORN, ALCOHOL, BARLEY, WHEAT, OAT, SPELT, RYE.

Malynda Vigliotti (aka Boom Boom) opened the first walk-in brow bar in NYC in 2008. Boom Boom Brow Bar survived the pandemic and celebrated 13 years strong by becoming the first VEGAN and CRUELTY FREE brow bar in the city – read about it in amNY! As a female small business owner diagnosed with Graves’ and Thyroid Eye Disease, she developed a line of CLEAN brow products formulated without all the bad stuff, because our eyes are so important and clean beauty is the future.  With close to half a million people served, she’s changing the world one brow at a time with walk-in services, practical prices, clean products, an inclusive engaged COMMUNITY and a whole lot of FUN!  Everyone should have access to gorgeous brows, after all, they are the most important feature on the face…especially when wearing a mask!  As seen in American Spa, Bustle, Byrdie, Eye Lash, Good Housekeeping, Huffington Post, In Style, Newsday, New York Post, New York Times, Nylon, PopSugar, Refinery29, Spa Week, The Knot, Vogue and Vogue UK. Instagram: @BoomBoomBrowBar; Facebook: @BoomBoomBrowBar and Twitter: @BoomBoomBrowBar.

Candy Pink Lip Kit to Include Lipstick, Lip-Gloss, and Liner

Who’s your alter ego? If it’s Pinky, you’re flirty, playful, and fabulous. So, what not look the part? Rinna Beauty gives you the chance with a new shade for its ICON Lip Kit: Pinky. It’s one of five colors being introduced by Rinna Beauty that represent the many sides to our personalities. Pinky, first out of the bunch, gives wearers the confidence and charisma to be the life of the party and first behind the velvet ropes. The kit, like all colors in the ICON collection, comes with lipstick, gloss and liner, and are at www.rinnabeauty.com

“There’s who we are, who we hide, and who we unleash. Everyone has an Alter Ego, and it wants to come out,” says Lisa Rinna, founder of Rinna Beauty. “Our new shades of the ICON Lip Kits are bold and sassy, with names of their own. Pinky is first on the lips. She’s fun, adventurous and always up for a good time.”

Pinky brings moisture to lips, as well as a longer last. All Rinna Beauty ICON Lip Kits are vegan and free of parabens, sulphate, and phthalates. Additionally, they are cruelty-free.

Since its September announcement, Rinna Beauty has generated tremendous interest and a waiting list many thousands deep. “It’s finally here,” lauded the Daily Mail, proclaiming Rinna Beauty’s lipsticks “fit for her iconic pout.” Allure, beauty’s top magazine, said “Rinna knows her stuff when it comes to lips.” And WWD stated the obvious when it wrote “Her pout has been topic of conversation for years.” Its first product, the ICON Lip Kit, features lipstick and gloss in three of Lisa’s signature nude shades, as well as a liner.

BACK SAVING TIPS FOR SUMMER ROAD TRIPS

www.nynjspine.com

In this post-pandemic world, people want to travel, however many do not want to travel  abroad by plane wearing masks, or have to take Covid tests or quarantine at their destination. Exponentially more people will be driving long distances in cars this summer. There are folks who might be driving cross country or down the northeast coast and spending in excess of 10 hours in a cramped car. Even for those who don’t normally have back pain, this type of situation can cause it.

Below are some tips from NYC Area Orthopedic and Spinal Surgeon Dr. Gbolahan Okubadejo on avoiding or mitigating back pain while driving this summer.

Get comfortable immediately

Take the time to make sure you’re comfortable from the moment you set off on your trip. Discomfort at the beginning of your trip can turn into nagging pain later.

Keep your back pockets empty.

Sitting on your wallet, phone, or anything else may throw your spine out of alignment.

Mind your posture

Position your knees slightly higher than your hips, and keep your chin pulled in so that your head sits straight on top of your spine.

Sit a comfortable distance from the steering wheel.

Sit with your breastbone at least 10 inches from the steering wheel, and keeping your hands on the wheel at 9 and 3 (the sides rather than the top of the wheel). But don’t sit too far away either, which can cause you to reach too far for the wheel and places more stress on the lumbar spine, neck, shoulder, and wrists.

Shift in your seat periodically

When possible, try to move a little in your seat. Even 10 seconds of movement and stretching is preferable than sitting still. At a minimum adjust your seat and change your position slightly every 15 to 20 minutes. Pump your ankles to keep the blood flowing and provide a slight stretch in your hamstring muscles. Any movement that is safe to do in the car will help you alleviate back strain.

Make your ride as smooth as possible

Bumps in the road can jar your spine and increase pain. For a smoother ride, consider:

Aim for a Smooth Ride

Replacing worn shocks to limit the bounce in the car

Replacing worn tires to reduce vibration or shaking

Sit on a car seat pillow or coccyx cushion to provide more padding between you and the road.

Move yourself

Sitting in one position in a car will stiffen up your back muscles and can lead to achiness and possibly muscle spasms. Everyone should ideally take at least a 15-minute break for every 2 hours of driving. If you’re prone to back pain, you may want to take breaks more frequently, such as every 30 to 60 minutes.

What to do if you’re in pain

Cold therapy can help reduce inflammation and swelling. Consider bringing a cooler to store reusable ice packs or other cold therapy packs.

Heat therapy can help increase blood flow and relax the muscles. Various types of heat therapy are available to buy, such as heat wraps or heat pads.

Note about application: It is recommended to apply ice or heat for only 15 or 20 minutes at a time, then give your skin a rest to recover for at least a couple of hours before the next application.

About the Doctor

Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, FAAOS, leads The Institute for Comprehensive Spine Care, with offices in the greater New York City area, as a spinal and orthopedic surgeon. Board-certified and fellowship-trained, Dr. Okubadejo specializes in the treatment of degenerative spinal disease, spinal deformity, and cervical, lumbar, and thoracic conditions.

Dr. Okubadejo earned his undergraduate degree at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. He completed his internship and orthopedic surgery residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Okubadejo completed a spinal surgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh.

Dr. Okubadejo is a published research author and has presented his findings at several major spinal conferences around the globe. While a surgical resident, he won the Leonard Marmor Surgical Arthritis Foundation Resident Award for the best research project.

In 2017, Dr. Okubadejo formed company 360 Dynamized Core, which is focused on creating innovative, spine safe core fitness products and routines. The first patented product, 360

CoreBoard, launched to the market in 2020. Find out more at 360coreboard.com

Dr. Okubadejo believes in the power of preventive care, minimally invasive surgical procedures, open communication with patients, and personalized care. When he’s not caring for patients, he enjoys traveling, learning about different cultures and the arts, and playing golf.

Dad really stepped it up this year. Juggling working from home with daily household chaos. While they loved more time with family, let’s be honest, they also missed the sanctuary of their office. This Father’s Day treat Dad to some unexpected pampering. Bandito by MasqueBAR (Share A Sale/Skimlinks Affiliates) is a collection of face masks designed specifically for men. These masks will help even the toughest skin feel smooth and refreshed.

Perfect for Father’s Day, MasqueBAR presents Limited-Edition King Kit, a $49.99 value available for $39.99. Alternatively, the below individual products are also available:

Dirty King Black Gold Peel Off Mask, $7.99

• Available exclusively at Target, Target.com and www.masque.bar
• Powerful, mineral-rich peel off mask for all skin types
• Infused with activated charcoal that peels off to draw out impurities, detoxify, cleanse pores and exfoliate to help to brighten and refine the appearance of the skin
• Also contains 24K Gold to enrich every skin cell at the molecular level and restore the process of regeneration of the upper layers of the dermis
• Formulated without sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, silicone, petrolatum nor phthalates

Pack Your Bags Eye Patches, $3.99

• Available exclusively at Target and www.masque.bar
• Helps to reduce the appearance of eye puffiness and restore firmness and elasticity to your under-eye skin
• Leaves the under-eye area soft, revitalized and moisturized
• Contains: Charcoal Powder, Oatmeal Extract, Vitamin E, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Bamboo Extract and Cucumber Extract

Chill a Minute…or 30 Cream Mask, $3.99

• Available at www.masque.bar
• Helps minimize the appearance of pores for a more even complexion
• Leaves skin feeling balanced and looking more radiant
• Contains: Raspberry Extract, Bilberry Fruit Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract and Vitamin E
• Vegan

Get Lucky – Night on the Town Sheet Mask, $3.99

• Available at www.masque.bar
• Helps minimize the appearance of dark spots for a brighter, more even complexion
• Leaves skin looking more radiant
• Contains: Orange Extract, Licorice Root, Vitamin C, Bilberry Extract, Lemon Extract, Arbutin, and Hyaluronic Acid
• Ingredients such as Bilberry, Sugar Cane, Orange, Lemon, and Sugar Maple included in the mask help deliver natural AHAs to the skin
• Vegan

Pimped Out No More Mud Mask, $3.99

• Available at Amazon and www.masque.bar
• Helps soothe irritated skin and bumps
• Purifies and balances the complexion
• Leaves skin feeling calm and looks clearer
• Contains: Shea Butter, Tea Tree Oil, Aloe Extract, Kaolin, Green Tea Extract and Vitamin A

Keep it Smooth Sheet Mask, $3.99

• Available at www.masque.bar
• Helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles while hydrating skin
• Leaves skin feeling soft and looking refreshed
• Contains: Green Tea Extract, Collagen, Vitamin E, Hyaluronic Acid and Snail Secretion

Warning: skin this good could be illegal.

Anyone who has hair long enough to pull it into a ponytail, will.  It’s a universal style that’s effortless, convenient and low maintenance.  Top Stylist and Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken, Sam Villa, has pro tips for creating a ponytail that will last longer and look better.

1. Prep: Start with a product like Redken Guts 10 to create volume at the base and then directionally blow dry hair with a round brush.  This will smooth hair and prevent any lumps and bumps when gathering hair into the elastic.

      2. Pocket: Hold thumb and index finger apart and create a pocket to brush hair into where ponytail will be placed. Hold a paddle brush vertically (pins will align straight) to untangle.  Then, turn brush horizontally (pins                   become randomly spaced) to build tension and smooth.  Keep the knuckles holding the hair snug against the head for maximum tension and tilt head back slightly so hair at the nape stays tight.

      3 Secure: Use an elastic (2 if they are small or hair is thick).  Feed hair through, lift up elastic, twist tight at the top and repeat as many times as needed.  Or use an elastic cord – with the pocket hand, hold cord 1.5” down,                 wrap the longer end underneath the tail, up and around to tighten and repeat 4 times.  Use a butchers knot to secure ends – an overhand knot around the standing end and pull tight. Form a loop around fingers, slide the                 loop onto the short end, and pull both ends to tighten, then trim the long end.

PRO TIP: Hide elastics by slipping a hair pin under the elastic, wrapping a section of hair around the elastic to hide it and then taking another hair pin to feed ends through the first pin.

“It’s important to know how to craft a ponytail, then you can embellish it with texture or use as a foundation to build a solid upstyle,” explains Villa who likes to use dry shampoo to create a frothy texture, his Signature Series Textur Professional Texturizing Iron at the base for extra lift and his Pro Results 3-in-1 Blow Dry Hot Brush to smooth and straighten.

Credits: Hair: Sam Villa ArTeam; Photographer: Mitch Meyer; MUA: Keri Hatfield; Wardrobe: Michelle Boucher assisted by Carmen Nydegger

Sam Villa is Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Sam Villa Company (Allvus, LLC) and Global Artistic Ambassador for Redken 5^th Avenue, a L’Oreal brand. Villa is the 2020 International Hairdressing Awards ‘International Hair Influencer of the Year,’ the 2017 NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Intercoiffure America/Canada Member, Behind the Chair Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator (2012, 2011 and 2007) and Favorite Overall Educator of the Year (2015). His inspiring education and innovative ergonomic professional tools achieve salon-quality results at home with minimum effort. Facebook: @SamVillaPros; Instagram: @SamVillaHair;  YouTube: @SamVillaHair;

Twitter: @SamVillaPro;; Pinterest: @SamVillaHair.