August 23, 2011

Salt Radiance Scrub

Salt Radiance

I was at an event last week sponsored by New Beauty’s Spa Finder, which showcased some of the best products available to spas. It was an enjoyable event, and of course I got to hang out with the great team of Skin 2 Skin, as well as see some new products.

It is hard to be at a spa event and not feel special! It brought back memories of some great spa trips that I’ve had. With that in mind, I’d like to share a recipe for Salt Radiance Scrub that I got while visiting The Datai in Malaysia. It is a wonderful, exhilarating scrub. Visiting friends during the remaining days of summer? A great gift……..

Salt Radiance

The Datai Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia

1 cup sea salt

6 tablespoons vegetable oil (I also like almond oil)

8 drops lavender essential oil

8 drops vetiver essential oil

8 drops ylang-ylang essential oil

Blend all ingredients. Standing in the shower, massage vigorously over entire body for 3-5 minutes, using a natural sponge, loofah, or wash cloth. Rinse off. A cold rinse will energize a hot rinse will relax. Apply moisturizer liberally after drying off.

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
August 11, 2011

Betsey Johnson Celebrates Her Birthday with New Fragrance Launch

Happy Birthday Betsey  Johnson!!!

Today American designer and renowned fashion icon Betsey Johnson turns 69 years young. And I do mean young! When you meet Betsey, she exudes youth! Beautiful, fun, modern, sexy, playful, vivacious, radiant, with a contagious energy and passion for life, one cannot avoid being mesmerized in her presence. It is definitely an “I’ll have what she’s having” moment, and you pray she’ll share her secret with you!

If I had to bet, I would say that she is one who truly loves what she does. Her love for life, design and creativity can be seen in everything she does. Her years as a dancer cued her love for costume and fashion, leading up to the formation of her namesake label in 1978. Her designs are unmistakable….fun, cool and flirty, her commitment to remain true to her one-of-a-kind vision has afforded continued success in the fashion industry for more than 30 years. Not one to slow down, she developed and expanded the Betsey Johnson label as a lifestyle brand with the introduction of intimates, handbags and leather goods, footwear, watches, jewelry, eyewear, swimwear, and legwear. Today there are over sixty-five freestanding Betsey Johnson sores, distribution in over 2,000 specialty boutiques and an established business in both domestic and international markets.

What exactly does a dynamo do to celebrate her birthday? Launch a fragrance line of course! Yesterday at MILK Studios in Chelsea, Betsey had an early birthday celebration and unveiled Too Too, the fragrance. A fun, fresh perfume, Too Too is deliberately enticing, effervescent, boisterous and youthful-just like the creator herself!

Too Too, the fragrance is a combination of fruity and floral notes. The vibrant scent is comprised of sweet passion fruit, sparkling mandarins, ginger and strawberry leaves spun together with an underlying musk that suggests femininity and warmth. To round it out, jasmine, Bulgarian rose, patchouli, sandalwood and vanilla add just the right touch of sweetness and radiance. Betsey comments that it “was too too great of an experience developing Too Too with Inter Parfums! Inside and out, it’s too too sexy!”  And it is! One whiff and you can’t help but smile!

A gorgeous bottle as well; it is decorated in a bold pink and black decanter covered with flowers and tulle. A round weighted bottom gives way to a vintage inspired corseted silhouette-a sleek, sexy torso laced up and bound with silk. Each bottle is dressed in a full, voluptuous tutu wrapped in an individually namesake Betsey Johnson ribbon. As stated by Betsey, “This is my dream bottle, inspired by Schiaparelli, and years of tutus!”

Too Too will launch in October 2011 exclusively at Sephora through April 2012, followed by department stores and specialty boutiques worldwide.

We here at It’s A glam Thing would like to wish Betsey a very happy birthday! May she long continue to amaze us with her creativity and her zest for life!

 

 

 

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
August 9, 2011

Selena Wows With Wella

Selena Gomez was the star at last night’s Teen Choice Awards and looked incredible with her loose waves and tango-inspired low pony during her five-star performance. Her look,created by Wella Professionals Celebrity Stylist, Andy Lecompte. The newly appointed Wella  Professionals Celebrity Stylist, Andy Lecompte, gave five-time Teen Choice Award winner Selena Gomez loose, flawless waves for last night’s Teen Choice Awards. For Selena’s tango-inspired Teen Choice performance, her hair was pulled back into a chic, low ponytail. No matter, what your age, this is a timeless, elegant look that is easy to pull off. Here’s how:
Step-by-Step Styling

1. Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier was added to her wet hair to prime it for styling

2. Blow dry the hair completely smooth with a ceramic brush

3. Spritz hair with Wella Professionals Thermal Image Heat Protection Spray to protect hair from heat fatigue

4. Separate hair into small sections and use a medium to large barrel curling iron to set loose waves

5. Use fingers to apply Wella Professionals Stay Essential Finishing Spray,
tucking the hair behind one ear and giving it an all-over polished look

Then, for Selena’s Performance:

6. Using  a dollop of Wella Professionals Pearl Styler Styling Gel on the palms,smooth hair back toward the nape of the neck and secure with a hair elastic

7. Using a ½ inch section from her hair, wrap the pony to hide the hair elastic and
secure with hair pins into a chic, low ponytail

About Wella Professionals Styling

Wella Professionals Styling represents a refined collection of international salon favorites and iconic products recently innovated to create an extensive range destined for hair greatness. The new products combine wet styling, dry styling and finishing products, with each range offering four levels of hold. Wella Professionals
Care and Styling launched in May 2011 in professional salons across North
America. For more information, visit www.wella.com

Credit Info:

Hair products: Wella Professionals Velvet Amplifier, Thermal Image Heat
Protection Spray, Stay Essential Finishing Spray, Pearl Styler Styling Gel

Stylist: Andy Lecompte, Wella Professionals Celebrity Stylist

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
August 3, 2011

Zensation-For skin as soft as a rose petal

Like a Rose by Switchblade

“Your beauty is like that of a rose,
such delicacy and fragrance that everyone knows,
the loveliness satisfies even the most obscured,
and beauty such as this can’t be described in one word,

The aroma of a rose is so fragrant,
and just like it, you have that same lovable scent,
a scent that can be smelt from miles away,
and must be followed at any time of any day,

Your skin is so soft and gentle,
it has the tenderness of a newly picked rose petal,
a feeling that soothes the very edge of your fingers,
and when not being felt ,that soft feeling still lingers…….”

Is it any wonder that the rose is one of the ultimate symbols of beauty? “Skin so soft and gentle, it has the tenderness of a newly picked rose petal” ….is it any wonder that we have spent centuries trying to duplicate the softness of rose petals for the texture of our own skin?

Thankfully, Mother Nature didn’t keep all of nature’s best kept secrets to herself. Rose extract and rose oil have a host of beneficial effects on the skin and are great for promoting a youthful complexion with good tone, elasticity and an even colored complexion. Scientists have been able to isolate and use extracts from roses in their pursuits to make some of the best beauty products that are available.

Among some of the most sought after ingredients would include; Rosa Canina (Dog Rose) is a natural lipid high in gamma linoleic acid that enhances skin’s hydration, barrier repair, and moisture retention abilities. Rose Mosqueta, another extract rich in fatty acids, contains more Vitamin C than in oranges. Vitamin C has been shown to be vital as a tissue-regenerative and restorative skin care. Rosa Damascena another rich emollient will hydrate skin; keep it soft and properly moisturized as it fights dryness and dehydration. We have been able to use ingredients of the rose in our quest to fight aging and maintain a soft, dewy, healthy and youthful complexion.

Beauty is a rose, and if you are looking to try some products that utilize that beauty, look to the Swiss Zensation (www.zensationbeaute.com). I have been trying the Ultra Rose Exfoliating Cream. It really does give you that smooth, silky, dewy rose petal feel! I am looking forward to checking out the rest of the line. A skincare line that will give your skin the look of a newly picked rose petal…..it doesn’t get any better than that!

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
August 2, 2011

Hair As Easy As a Day At the Beach With Pravana

August 1st! Hazy, hot and humid!! Welcome to the dog days of summer!! It’s the type of heat and humidity where you can’t even think of doing your hair. It’s too hot to even think of blow drying, curling or straightening my hair. Even if I was crazy enough to subject myself to more heat, the humidity factor will kill any style that I could master in 3 seconds! What to do, what to do!

One of my favorite summer hair looks happens naturally…..at the beach! My hair looks natural and sensual after I have spent a few hours of playing in the sun and the sand. The sun, wind, and salt create these face framing waves….it’s a beautiful look; even better because there is nothing I have to do to create it. There had to be a product that I could just spritz in and capture that no-work sexy undulating wave look!

Over the years I have tried many products trying to recapture the beach wave. And I have been pretty disappointed with the results. I’ll spray it in, but when my hair dries, it looks like this heavily moussed mess from the 80’s! My hair looks weighted down, stiff, I can’t style it. I normally toss whatever I had used directly into the trash! I must admit when I got my hands on The Beach Wave Control Mist from Pravana Naturceuticals, I was expecting the same results. I was very happily surprised! My hair was soft, supple, and manageable and I loved it!

Maybe it is the ingredients. Pravana Naturceuticals’ The Beach Wave
Control Mist is made up of a proprietary blend of keratin, wheat and silk amino
acids, natural botanical extracts of jojoba seed, rosemary leaf, and arnica flower.
It provides a long lasting, naturally soft style! It is formulated to hydrate
your hair and protect it from the damage of the sun. Like all of Pravana’s
products the Beach Wave Control Mist is MEA, DEA and phthalate free.  With its wonderful scent of coconut vanilla, it’s like taking the beach with you.

Pravana Naturceuticals Beach Wave Control Mist works well on fine hair as well as curly hair. It is available at fine salons, spas, and beauty supply stores
nationwide. www.pravana.com

Now having fabulous looking hair is as easy as a day on the beach!

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
July 28, 2011

UK Bans Make-Up Ads

In my blog of June 9, 2011, I wrote about ideal beauty in advertising, and how when you see a picture of most models, they are pictures of the ideal beauty-completely flawless. I had cited Jean Kilbourne’s video as to how advertising shapes our world; creating our concepts, and our vision of beauty.  Flawless will exist in our new age of photo-shopped pictures, but it doesn’t exist in reality.

In a move announced yesterday, make-up advertisements featuring actor Julia Roberts and supermodel Christy Turlington have been banned in the UK because of their controversial use of ‘airbrushing’. Britain’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) issued the ban after politician Jo Swinson complained about the two ads, for foundation products made by L’Oreal’s Maybelline and Lancôme brands.  The ASA was not even allowed to see the original versions of the photographs. “It shows just how ridiculous things have become when there is such fear over an un-airbrushed photo that even the advertising regulator isn’t permitted to see it, “said Swinson.

The Scottish MP welcomed the ban, and said it should act as a wake-up call to advertisers, urging them to “get back to reality.” Pictures of flawless skin and super-slim bodies are all around, but they don’t reflect reality,” she said. “With one in four people feeling depressed about their body, it’s time to consider how these idealised images are distorting our idea of beauty. Excessive airbrushing and digital manipulation techniques have become the norm, but both Christy Turlington and Julia Roberts are naturally beautiful women who don’t need retouching to look great.”

How do you feel about the UK ban? Should there be more realistic pictures in our advertising? I’d love to know how your thoughts…..

To see more on the UK ban see

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/07/28/airbrushed.advertisements.ban/index.html?&hpt=hp_c2

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
July 28, 2011

Nourishing NYC July 28, 2011 Gallery Event

On Thursday, July 28th, there will be gallery event and fundraiser hosted by Nourishing NYC at the William Bennett Gallery from 6-9pm at 65 Greene Street in Soho. This is a ticketless event that Nourishing NYC and William Bennett
Gallery would like to ask you to attend and enjoy. The evening will include
Wine and Sake Tastings, Art Viewing and a Silent Auction.

If you like you can bid on the fabulous auction items with all proceeds supporting The Junior Chef Program-a summer program for low-income in-need children that focuses on teaching culinary, nutrition and urban agriculture. The auction items range from a signed cookbook from Celebrity Chef Thomas Keller to a Jets football signed by the team.

Nourishing NYC was opened in 2008 to address poor nutrition and health while addressing the issue of food scarcity and hunger. Nourishing NYC is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) community food program that strives to achieve “nutrition for all” in New York City. Their mission is to alleviate the strong correlation between low-income status and poor dietary health.

At Nourishing NYC, they strive to achieve the mission of “Nutrition for All” through a three-pronged approach of feed, educate and advocate. They are known throughout the country for our balanced and delicious hot meal services, junior chefs’ classes and produce programs. They provide nutritious meals and
nutritional educational without question and without criticism. Anyone is
welcome regardless of age, sex, race, financial qualifications, or religious
beliefs.

The July 7, 2011 report from Reuters reported that the number of obese adults in the U.S. rose in 16 states. According to this report, the obesity rate is above 30 percent in a dozen states.  Americans are eating less nutritious food and
more of it, while exercising less. Childhood obesity rates have skyrocketed.
Nourishing NYC‘s the Plant to Plate Chefs is a culinary arts and agriculture
nutritional educational program for children ages 6-12.

One of It’s a Glam Thing’s favorite designers, Adriana MarieCo.,is sponsoring the event. Adriana MarieCo in keeping with their philosophy of giving back to the community, also donates $5 of all tees purchased to Nourishing NYC.  I am proud to be able to join her at this worthy event.

We look forward to seeing you at on July 28th at 6pm.

http://www.williambennettgallery.com/

And as always if you cannot attend this event but still would like to support Nourishing NYC please feel free to donate online at http://www.nourishingnyc.org/

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
July 25, 2011

Say Goodbye to Dark Spots!

 

Skin 2 Skin™ Care
Controls Dark Spots with Vegan Peptide Technology!

Dark Spots, photodamage or sun damaged skin is something that most people will not escape. It occurs with exposure to sunlight starting at an early age with 25% of our exposure occurring before the end of our teens. Even if you limit your exposure as an adult and use SPF there is a real possibility you will develop dark spots.

The damage is not only limited to dark spots but uneven pigmentation, darkening of the skin, small spider blood vessels, Rosacea, sensitive skin, rough and scaly patches, freckles, thinning and fragile skin, pre skin cancer and skin cancer. The most advanced vegan peptide technology is in Skin 2 Skin™ Care’s Photoaging Repair Cream that can help solve darkening of the skin without sun sensitivity that is related to lighteners, glycolic acid and Retinol. Ever read the back of a product label that has glycolic acid, lighters or Retina l in the ingredient list. It is stated “Do not expose skin to sun” or “Stay out of the sun when using this product”. That’s nice but we don’t live in a cocoon.

Ken Simpson, (pictured below) founder of Skin 2 Skin™, knew that there had to be a better way to help control the appearance of photo- damage without hiding from the sun. He knew first hand since he lives in Palm Springs, Ca where sun is plentiful and there is no hiding from it. Before creating Skin 2 Skin™ out of necessity because of a brain tumor and radiation treatments that were destroying his skin, he had tried all the other products including lighteners, glycolic acid and Retinol. He had become severely sun sensitive with fragile skin because of the products. “l love the color red but it is not a flattering color for my skin,” says Ken.

Ken’s answer was to create a skin care product using two of the most advanced vegan peptides that would help reverse and prevent sun damage and dark spots. The formulation had to be perfect for the peptides to be delivered and work properly, and at the recommended dosage. Ken went to work and created Skin 2 Skin Care Photo aging Repair Cream, a result driven pure and organic multi functional skin care product.

Skin 2 Skin Care Photo Aging Repair Cream is formulated with the ingredient Kinetin N6. Kinetin exists naturally in our cells and is known as a “sensitive skin alternative to retinols” and a potent antioxidant. It promotes the natural cell division increasing natural exfoliation of dead skin cells. It works by improving the skin’s health by retarding and delaying natural cell aging and preventing future premature cell sun damage and death while restoring and recovering savable sun damaged cells. It is one of the most effective skin aging preventative measures in your anti-aging arsenal. It works in the deep cellular levels for the reduction of wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots plus improves the skin’s texture.

It’s also formulated with the newest advanced vegan peptide that lightens the overall appearance of the skin without damaging the skin, Melanostatine®5 . It inhibits the synthesis of melanin, dark or black pigment controlling dark spots and the darkening of aging skin. This helps to prevent hyper-production, dark spots and has the lightening ability for all skin tones Caucasian, Asian, Brown and African-American without long term damage, thinning if the skin, and the need to avoid the skin.

Visible signs of dark spots and overall skin darkening can be seen to diminish within 4 weeks with twice a day application of the Photoaging Repair Cream. It increases your skins hydration and improves the health of your skin’s barrier that naturally protects the skin from UV, Bacteria, Fungus, and chronic inflammation causing premature aging of the skin.

This is why the Photoaging Repair Cream is one of Anna Torv, of the TV show Fringe favorite products “I lather it on my neck and chest which seems to have taken most of the beatings the Australian sun has to offer.”

 

 

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
July 20, 2011

Attaining the Natural Look-Perfect for These Hot Days!

Summertime and the living is easy……..and your beauty routine should be as well! On these scorching, hot hazy days of summer, easy does it is the motto. Keep it simple, extra simple….a brush here, a swipe there.

The emphasis should be on clean-looking, sun-kissed, glowing skin. That means just a few dabs of products, and letting that radiant you shine through!

How does one attain the natural look? The sheer-pink cheeks and lips with lightly bronzed skin?  By using very little product and the lightest of touch, you can give yourself that fresh, flawless and perfectly natural look. One trick of the trade to always look well-groomed even if you are make-up free? Start with well-groomed brows. Make-up maven Melinda Lombardi swears by them! She’ll go out make-up free, but will always brush her brows to achieve that natural but elegant look!

So…brows are in order, let’s go!

  • Start by perfecting your skin…clean and gently exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation will give you that radiant glow and also ensure that the make-up you put on will blend in easily with your skin.
  • Moisturize. Use a primer after moisturizer that will fill in tiny lines, soften and smooth skin.
  • Even out your skin tone.  Use a tinted lotion that matches your skin
    tone so it disappears into the skin. It is will give you that subtle, natural
    glow.
  • Conceal any flaws. For under-eye circles, blemishes, gently dot and blend a pigmented concealer.
  • Concentrate on the T zone….to let the radiant cheeks shine through, I generally put nothing but a little blush on my cheeks.
  • Pick a warm cheek color. You want to have that “I just got out of exercise class” natural, subtle flush.  I find that cream blushes in warm peaches or pinks tend to give you that light touch of color. One make-up artist tip to achieve a natural-looking, sun-kissed glow is to apply the blush in a cursive “E” pattern. The blush should lightly wash the forehead, cheeks and chin

  • Now define your eyes. Earthy tones such as soft, brownish tints enhance your eyes’ natural contours without showing up as shadow. If you feel like you want some more definition, gently dot on eye pencil.
  • Enhance lashes. Defined lashes and brows are essential, even for a no make-up look. You can forgo the shadow and liner, but never the lashes and brows.
  • Subtly amp up lips. Pick a shade that matches your lips exactly and press the color into your lips by using your fingertips. Concentrate on the center and blend out. Lip stains give you a very natural coverage.
  • Use Powder if needed. If your skin get shiny, a mineral powder applied using a brush in a circular motion will leave an undetectable veil of coverage.
  • Revive during the day. Blotting paper works well. Hydration mists will instantly hydrate and soothe the skin giving an instant pick-me up.Some of my favorite products to use to keep it as natural as possible are:

From Skin 2 Skin (www.skin2skincare.com)

-White Tea Anti-Aging Face Wash-PH balanced; botanical, hydrating, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory biodegradable wash will cleanse and gently exfoliate as it improves the overall health and texture of your skin. It also removes make-up and mascara as well.

-Anti-Sagging Renewal Serum-Maximum concentration of powerful peptides to increase skin’s elasticity. It increases volume, stimulates collagen production as it reducesfine lines and wrinkles as it softens and smoothes the skin. A perfect primer!

-Anti-Photoaging SPF 30-Mineral tint can be used as a foundation. It is all natural, organic,non- toxic SPF with anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory and moisturizers protectskin from premature aging.

And make-up from glo Professional (www.gloprofessional.com)

-You have skin perfecting mineral make-up. All of their make-up combines pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, natural high-pigment minerals and the power of anti-oxidants. You have clinically advanced mineral make-up that covers, corrects and protects with its broad spectrum UV protection, and assists in combating free radical damage.

Also check out their glo.minerals Revive Hydration Mist/ In addition to instantly hydrating and soothing the skin, it contains an exclusive blend of anti-oxidants to provide nutrients that are vital to maintaining skin’s healthy radiance. With the essential oils of peppermint, lavender and rosemary, it instantly stimulates the senses!

Here’s to making your summer beauty routine as easy as possible! Use a light touch, and use beauty products with a higher purpose. Products that multi-task protecting the skin, while restoring and repairing!

Who knew natural could look so good and be so good for you!

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment
July 19, 2011

Spread the Kindness on Nelson Mandela International Day!

Nelson Mandela Day

A friend of mine from South Africa reminded me that today was Nelson Mandela’s 93rd birthday. It is a happy, festive day in South Africa. It is the day the South African people celebrate the birthday of their beloved former President and anti-apartheid hero, by doing good works in his honor.  South Africa is not the only nation inspired by Mandela. The United Nations General Assembly in November 2009 proclaimed July 18th as “Nelson Mandela International Day”. It is the first
time that the UN has dedicated an International Day to an individual.

“Nelson Mandela International Day” is not only a day to honor Mandela, but it is a day to celebrate his achievements in freedom, justice and democracy. He has spent his life serving humanity. He spent 67 years from 1942 until his retirement from public life in 2009, working for equality in the African nation. He has been instrumental in creating a democracy towards a non-racial, non-sexist South Africa. After spending 27 years in prison, he became President where he gave priority to conflict resolution and race relations. He promoted and protected human rights, gender equality, the rights of children and other vulnerable groups. He strived to uplift and aid poor and underdeveloped communities. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated that “Nelson Mandela is a living embodiment of the highest values of the United Nations…..He is an exemplary global citizen.”

It is a day when people in South Africa try a little kindness-67 minutes worth-to reflect the 67 years Mandela worked for equality. Whether it is 67 minutes to a humanitarian cause, or simply by just doing a good deed, regardless of whether the action is big or small, isn’t it a wonderful idea to change the world for better? Here’s hoping it becomes more than a once a year event!

SHARE THIS POST ON: Facebook
Posted By Leave a Comment