Better Skin…Starting Now!

New Product Review: Cane + Austin Miracle Pad, $78 for 60 pads.

If you’ve ever had a peel at an aesthetician or doctor’s office you know what an effective rejuvenating and brightening treatment it is, but the costly series of recommended sessions and flaking experienced for days afterwards might have you thinking twice about doing it again. Thanks to this breakthrough product that rivals in-office procedures you won’t have to.

Last week I attended a beauty event at Space NK, where NY-based renowned dermatologist and dermatopathologist Dr. Craig Austin introduced his Cane + Austin Miracle Pad, a medical grade product for the masses. This pre-treated perfecting pad contains the highest level of buffered Glycolic Acid that you can buy over the counter (20%), antioxidants A, C, E in a phospholipid based liposome, Coenzyme Q10 and Witch Hazel. In layman’s terms this means deeper penetration, maximum exfoliation without irritation, tighter, glowier skin and anti-aging protection from further damage. Simply swipe it over your complexion and within days it will diminish fine lines, lighten pigmentation, decrease pore size, rebuild collagen and increase radiance. Recommended use is morning and night but I highly suggest you build up to that to avoid irritation.

I started using it once every other day and the first few times I noticed a stinging sensation (completely normal). After a few days I switched to once a day and was surprised to see my complexion was already more taut and had found its inner glow again! That was fast…next week I’ll swipe it on twice a day, morning and night.

I know you’ll love Cane + Austin Miracle Pad, available in October, 2013, but if you can’t wait until then to get started try Cane + Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pad, $60 for 60. With a similar formula and 10% Glycolic Acid it’s still very, very effective.

 

Important News for all you redheads out there!

Click here to read and share with every redhead you know.

(photography courtesy of momongamon.tumblr.com)

Hot Body!

On those days when my To Do List is a mile long and I have no time to exercise a 15-minute tone-up is better than nothing. And who better to go to than fitness guru Tracy Anderson, credited with keeping Gwyneth in top form.

This workout designed specifically for goop readers gets the job done. You will feel this!

Click here to go to video.

(video courtesy of goop.com)

 

Faux-Fringe Benefits

I was invited to test drive Butterfly Studio Salon‘s style bar. Since I’ve always suffered from bang envy I jumped at the chance to road-test a fringe.

“Nothing beats faux bangs as an indicator if you should cut,” says senior stylist, Nicole Descoteaux. You can look at photos all you want, they can’t give you the actual visual of what they’ll look like on you. If you’re flirting with the idea of cutting consider this:

  1. Bangs look best of those with a 3-4 inches between their hairline and their brow. The shorter that distance the longer your bangs should be.
  2. They accentuate whatever area they hit. If you have great eyes or wonderful cheekbones a fringe will play them up.
  3. Got something to hide? Bangs are cheaper than botox.

After a quick consultation, Descoteaux held up a blunt cut bang in a perfect color match from HairDo by HairUWear and placed it on my hairline. We both gasped at how wrong it looked. Then, she held up a more tapered, piecey version and easily clipped it into place. It looked kind of cool! She showed me two styling options (a topknot and a braid with a headscarf) and taught me how to do them myself as well.

The verdict? I think I’ll stay sans bangs right now…but I have a fun piece to wear whenever the mood strikes!

Pricing for the Style Bar at Butterfly Studio Salon starts at around $35. Besides bangs and scarf styles they also do braids, ponytails and twists. If you’re in the NYC area I highly recommend you make an appointment. You’ll walk out looking great and you’ll have the means and the skills to recreate your look at home.

Next time, I’ll go with a group of girlfriends–it’s the perfect start to a Girl’s Night Out!

Butterfly Studio Salon, @149 Fifth Avenue (at 22nd Street), 2nd Floor, NYC 212-253-2100

 

Cool Coverage for The Beauty Wall!

I’m so excited to be featured on blog.us.cision.com. Check out my writeup below. xoxoNancy

 

August 21, 2013

Weekly Feature for Fashion & Beauty Fanatics: Q&A with Nancy Weinberg Simon of The Beauty Wall

Author: 

nancy weinberg simon

Photo courtesy of Weinberg Simon

Nancy Weinberg Simon is no rookie when it comes to all things beauty and fashion. After years working as a modeling agent and then as the beauty editor at Family Circle magazine, she knows the ins and outs of the industry. And now she’s parlayed that experience into her own popular blog, The Beauty Wall.

Q: You previously served as beauty editor for Family Circle before becoming a freelance writer in 2007. What made you decide to freelance?
A: I’d been at Family Circle for 10 years and loved every minute of it. Leaving was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make but it was the right choice for my family. My children were young at the time (3 and 5) and they needed to spend more quality time with me. Going freelance gave me the opportunity to do just that and continue doing the job I loved.

Q: When did you decide to launch The Beauty Wall?
A: Right before the new year (2013) I was out to dinner with an old work associate and close friend of mine who’s always been very pro-Nancy. She believes so strongly in me that it makes me believe I can do anything. I’d been toying with the idea in my head for quite a while and my dad’s recent death after a short illness made me realize that there’s no time like the present. My new mantra became Nike’s memorable tagline “Just Do It”.

Q: Where did your interest in fashion and beauty come from?
A: What little girl doesn’t love trying on makeup and playing dress up? I just didn’t know you could make a career out of it. I was working as an agent at a modeling agency and was offered a position at a national women’s magazine. I jumped at the chance as this allowed me to combine my childhood dream with my passion for writing and photography and my experience of working with top models.

Q: What are some of the benefits of being a freelancer and a blogger, versus an editor at a magazine?
A: The best thing about being a freelancer or blogger is that your time is your own. I can write at midnight or 5am if I want to. It’s also nice to get to write about whatever I’m “feeling” at the moment.

Q: How about the challenges?
A: For me, the biggest challenge is not being able to share an office with smart, talented peers to bounce ideas off of. There are also many benefits to working in a structured environment with access to the many resources that comes with it.

Q: Do you use social media to promote yourself? If so, in what ways?
A: Social media is such a huge part of the industry now. I use Pinterest and Facebook to promote The Beauty Wall. At this time I find them to be the most effective ways to communicate with my subscribers.

Q: New York Fashion Week is coming up in September. Have you ever been? Or would you ever go?
A: I’ve been to New York Fashion Week many times and always find it very entertaining. It’s quite a show–the music, incredible hair and makeup and new styles provide great inspiration for stories. I enjoy checking out the new designers and seeing how they leave their mark on the industry.

Q: What is the beauty product you can’t live without?
A: I don’t know what I’d do without Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage. I use it to cover dark circles, brighten the inner corners of my eyes, conceal redness around my nose area, do subtle contouring and even out my lids when I’m going for that “no makeup” look.

Q: What are you PR pet peeves, or what is the strangest pitch you’ve received?
A: Years ago I had a deskside with a small jewelry company that wanted me to write about their necklaces made from children’s actual baby teeth. It was so creepy seeing these ugly dangling teeth. Who would wear that!?

Q: Any tips for PR professionals who want to get in contact with you?
A: I’m easy! I’m always up for reviewing the latest products. The best way to reach me is via email at nancy@thebeautywall.com.

Find Nancy on FacebookPinterest, and at her website, thebeautywall.com.

 

 

Trend to Try: Braids

Braided styles feel fresh for fall, especially when worn in an up-do. This pretty style (courtesy of Aveda) works for all hair types, from fine and straight to thick and curly.

  1. Prep hair with a texturizer and blow dry hair smooth. Try Aveda Pure Abundance Style Prep, $24 at aveda.com.
  2. Use a tail comb to make a straight center part from forehead to nape of neck.
  3. Make an inverted fishtail braid on each side of the head, beginning at the crown and working to the back of the ear. Secure the end of each braid with an elastic band.
  4. Use hairspray to tame flyaways. You’ll like  Aveda Air Control Hair Spray, $24 at aveda.com.
  5. Add some fullness by gently massaging braids.
  6. Fold the braids over one another across the back of the head, just above the nape, in a crisscross fashion. Tuck ends under and secure with bobby pins.
  7. Finish with a light mist of hair spray for staying power.

blogshot-avedabraid2

 

 

(photography and style how-to courtesy of Aveda)

Change the World…One Smile at a Time!

I know how fortunate I am. I have two smart, thoughtful, talented, beautiful children and when they smile–which is very often–they light up a room!  Unfortunately, for many children around the world a smile isn’t a common occurrence. Those born with a cleft lip (a split in the skin of the upper lip) and/or a cleft palate (an opening in the roof of the mouth) can’t thrive because they might have great difficulty eating, speaking and often suffer social challenges as well. Luckily, there are people who care.

This Fall, top-ranked New York City Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Andrew Jacono, M.D, F.A.C.S., will lead a group of facial plastic surgeons working with HEALING THE CHILDREN NORTHEAST for a mission to Santa Marta, Colombia to perform surgeries on children with cleft lip and palate deformities, as well as microtia, a congenital condition in which a baby is born without one or both external ears or with an ear deformity. They’ll screen and operate on numerous children giving them new faces and smiles. You can make a difference! Every dollar counts. To donate, please click here.

Dr. Jacono is committed to helping those who don’t have the medical or financial resources to correct their facial deformities. He performs pro-bono surgery on victims of birth defects, domestic violence, traumatic events, war and cancer. For more information on Dr. Jacono’s philanthropy and charitable works, click here.

 

The Animal Print: Fall’s Newest Neutral

Leopard print is having a huge moment this Fall–you’ll see it on everything from sweaters to dresses, skirts and accessories. My favorite pick is these animal print shoes that absolutely “make” any outfit they’re paired with! Try them with a pantsuit for a modern look, skirts and dresses for retro appeal or skinny jeans and a schoolboy blazer for instant cool.

Sixties Slingbacks in LEO, $148 at bodenusa.com.

Gorgeous Hair in 3 Easy Steps

I’m LOVING Keri Russell’s look at the NYC premiere of her latest film, Austenland…so much in fact that I’ll definitely be wearing my hair this way quite often come fall! If your hair is shoulder-length or longer you’ll want to give it a go.

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones gave Russell her super-shiny glam waves using René Furterer styling products. Here’s how you can do it too:

  1. Beginning with clean, dry hair, part hair deeply on the side.
  2. Wrap 2-inch-wide sections around the barrel of a 1 ¼-inch curling iron.
  3. Flat iron sections along the bottom few inches of hair to make it modern.

Rub a little René Furterer MODELING PASTE between your fingers and smooth out flyaways around the hairline. Follow up with a quick hit of  René Furterer VEGETAL FINISHING SPRAY for natural control with just enough movement. Finish with a light misting of René Furterer GLOSSING SPRAY for mega shine. Gorgeous!

All products available at www.dermstore.com.

Out Damn Spot!!!

Product Review: Osmia Organics Spot Treatment, $20 at osmiaorganics.com

A few weeks ago I received a box of Osmia Organics products and have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to start testing them. Unfortunately for me I had a huge reason to review the Spot Treatment. Fortunately for me Spot Treatment does the trick!

This tiny bottle with the rollerball applicator is chock full of antibacterial essential oils. Lavender, cajeput, lemon, parsley, thyme, cypress and rosemary CO2 immediately go to work and get the healing started. I wish I’d started it a day or two earlier because in one night my pimple was greatly diminished and it didn’t dry out my skin. The next time a spot rears its ugly head, I know what I’ll be reaching for.

(photo courtesy of Osmia Organics)