Category Archives: Events

THE LOOK: CONTROLLED CHAOS

I’m kind of crazy about this polished, interesting undo created by Amit Abraham, Master Stylist for Dop Dop Salon for the Bibhu Mohapatra Fall 2016 Collection. It celebrates the prowess and poise of the mysterious female mind and was inspired by China’s Dragon Lady, Empress Cixi.

Abraham combined symmetical buns, one circular and the either in a wave-like shape. You can easily create your own interpretation or replicate it as is.

To do:
•Blow dry hair super straight and smooth
•Part hair down the middle and tightly pull hair back into two symmetrical ponytails at the occipital bone
•Twist ponytail hair into a flat bun on left side, being aware of the placement of bun so as not to peer out in front
•Take right ponytail and wrap in fine hairnet then secure at the base and wave flat toward front right ear pinning inside of nest to create wave movement
•Polish hair with strong hold gel to remove flyaways
•Finish with hairspray and add hair accessory

 

 

(Photography, Luzena Adams)

 

GET YOUR FREE GIFT!

Today, 12/2/15, L’Occitane is partnering with Uber NYC as part of Uber’s inaugural “5 Days of Giving.”

To get your L’Occitane gift (valued at over $100), just follow these simple steps:
1. Open the Uber app, tap the Profile icon in the top left corner, then tap Promotions
2. Enter promo code TAPGETGIVE to unlock the special HOLIDAY option
3. Request HOLIDAY between 11am and 3pm on 12/2 in Manhattan (59th Street and below), Williamsburg, & Greenpoint (no ride required!)
4. If connected, an Uber driver-partner will arrive curbside at your location to hand off your gift (while supplies last)!

*One VERY LUCKY person will also receive an unforgettable grand prize: a four day trip for two to the South of France!!!
During the campaign, Uber will be teaming up with a different brand each day to give you FREE, on-demand, luxurious presents in NYC! Yesterday it was VINCE, today it’s L’Occitane’s turn and the next few days it will be other spectacular brands. 

What are you waiting for? Get lucky!!! xoxoNancy

GRAB YOUR GIRLFRIENDS AND GO!

 

This Thursday, November 5th, 2015, grab a bunch of girlfriends and head to your local L’OCCITANE store to kick off the holiday season with complimentary mini-facials, hors d’oeuvres and champagne.

If  you spend $65 or more you’ll receive two travel-size products from their new macaron-inspired collaboration with Pierre Hermé, as well as an exclusive invitation to a private sale.

See you there!!! xoxoNancy

HOW TO LOOK LIKE MIRANDA KERR. WELL…ALMOST.

I will never look like Miranda Kerr…and I’m okay with that. But it doesn’t mean I might not want to emulate her style every now and then. I love the look she had going on for the recent ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’ Costume Institute Benefit Gala early this May.

La Prairie worked with celebrity makeup artist Lisa Storey, who found inspiration in this Louis Vuitton short dress and Miranda’s simple middle part hair. She paired fresh, natural makeup to balance this chic modern dress.”

HOW TO CREATE THE LOOK:

Miranda’s skin was prepped with La Prairie Cellular Softening and Balancing Lotion, followed by Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Dry Oil.

Her eye shape was defined with the Luxe Eyeliner Automatic in Noir, with an upwards kick to the edges to lift the eye. Cellular Treatment Eye Colour Ensemble in Les Bruns followed and then Storey gently contoured her eye socket extending the dark shadow out to the edge of the eye, and gently smoking it out for a soft look. She then smudged the lighter shade under the eye to continue the frame and blending it so it faded out with no hard line.

For her perfect-looking, luminous complexion Storey used two shades of Skin Caviar Concealer, Foundation SPF 15 in Soleil Peche and then Mocha for the contour followed by the Light Fantastic Cellular Concealing Brightening Eye Treatment pen under the eye and on the balls of the cheeks to highlight and help make her eyes stand out.

On Kerrs cheeks Storey mixed the Rose Glow and Peach Glow Cellular Radiance Cream Blush for natural radiance followed by a gentle dusting of Cellular Treatment Bronzing Powder before softly powdering for staying power and also so Kerr was still left with a dewy look.

The finishing touches were the Cellular Treatment Mascara Instant Build in Noir on lashes, the Luxe Brow Liner Automatic in Brun to play up her brows and the Cellular Luxe Lip Enhancer followed by the Cellular Luxe Lip Colour in Almost Pink.

For more information or to purchase La Prairie products, click here.

 

Photo: Larry Busacca/Met Gala 2015/Getty Images

SPRING NAIL ART CONTEST

Enter JINsoon’s nail art contest and you can be one of 3 winners to receive the JINsoon x Tila March Collection.

To enter: Design your own nail art using nail polish only (no stickers or ornaments), tag @JINsoon & hashtag #jinsooncontest

Deadline for entries in 4/15/15.

courtesy of JINsoon

courtesy of JINsoon

REVIEW: LUSH SPA’S HARD DAYS NIGHT

My first experience with the LUSH Spa couldn’t have come at a better time. Like many working moms out there, I was beyond stressed trying to stay on top of all my work commitments. So much so that I couldn’t fully appreciate the quality time spent with my husband, children and friends.

Thinking some spa downtime might take me away from checking off things on my ever-growing to-do list I almost cancelled, but then I realized a little me-time just might do the trick to get back on track and find more patience and joy in my day to day – and that’s exactly what happened! In fact, days after the treatment I was still reaping the benefits. My mind felt clearer and the rediscovered happiness lingered.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by Ellysha, the warm and welcoming massage therapist who was to be working on me. She offered me some English tea and explained the treatment as basically a firm massage with passive stretching and a guided meditation at the end, all performed to a soundtrack of really cool, cleverly reworked Beatles songs.

Ellysha led me into a comfortable spa room and ducked out while I changed into the coziest pair of loose-fitting pajamas, set aside for me to wear during the treatment. They were actually wrapped around a hot water bottle so they’d be warm when I put them on. I rang a bell to signal that she should return and then I got onto a warm, cozy, heated treatment table that felt more comfortable than any bed I’ve ever slept in. I swear I was ready to move in!

Then the Beatles music started and Ellysha worked her magic—a combo of deep kneading, manipulation of my muscles, passive stretches and meditative moments—and took me on a journey that was a spa experience like nothing I’d ever experienced before. Each movement was somehow synchronized to words of the songs and the music but in a way that felt natural and organic, not forced. Every muscle and pressure point in my body was worked and before I knew it, I heard birds chirping and a rooster crowing. Seriously. Somehow, during the guided meditation I’d actually fallen asleep!

When I awoke, I felt completely rested, calm, restored and more in love with this one spa treatment than any I’d ever experienced before, so much so that when I was checking out I was ready to book one again. And then I remembered Mother’s Day is right around the corner…this year I deserve to get what I really want…don’t you?

Hard Days Night Treatment ($175 for 75 minutes). Expect passive stretching techniques, pressure points throughout the body and a hint of psychedelia. You can bring a bit of your experience home with the Hard Days Night Soundtrack ($15.95) available for purchase only at LUSH Spa locations. I’ve been playing it for pure enjoyment or when I need to be transported back to the most restorative experience of my life.

 

RECREATE RETRO!

If you’re not familiar with Birchbox, now is good time to get in the know. You can get monthly boxes for as little as $10 or pay a yearly subscription rate of $110 and in honor of Mad Men’s final season, Birchbox has partnered with AMC on a special Mad Men-inspired guest editor box (for women or men) chock full of beauty and grooming products for a cool mod look.

And…if you can’t get enough of Mad Men and everything about it, here’s how to recreate Joan’s power sex-kitten look thanks to this 1-2-3 how to from Christina Hendrick’s makeup artist Vanessa Scali.

Retro in a flash:

  1. Apply wash of a clean, champagne color shadow from the lash line to brow bone. Try Armani Fluid Sheer #2 ($62) or Dior Fusion Mono Eye Shadow in Mirror ($31).
  2. On the upper lash line, use black liner to draw a soft, winged line
  3. Finish with a strong, siren mouth. Try NARS Semi Matte Lipstick in Heat Wave or Jungle Red ($27).

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LAUGHTER IS BETTER THAN ANY MAKEUP!

Laughter isn’t only the best medicine…according to the powers that be at the beauty brand BENEFIT, it’s the best cosmetic ever, which is why they’re launching the laugh-out-loud Flawless Friends Network video and hotline.

Remember the famous 90’s psychic, Miss Cleo? She’s joined by Shannen Doherty and Joey Lawrence to encourage you to call Benefit’s live hotline at (1-844-SO-FLAWLESS) for fun, beauty boosting fortunes from Miss Cleo herself.

Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sz2QezdbSg&feature=youtu.be and give it a shot. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain…including a few laugh lines, but you know we’ve got a cream for that! xoxo

 

 

(featured image courtesy of pinterest)

SLIM PICKINGS: The Perfect Pre-Party Appetizer

I recently attended an event that struck me as a bit strange. It was held at The Tasting Table Test Kitchen in downtown NYC, an amazing space that actually made me want to host my own dinner party there. The chef was phenomenal and whipping up the most delicious sustenance but after a few bites and sips I actually lost my appetite. It wasn’t the fare…everything was really tasty and under normal circumstances I know I would have had my fair share. But, this was not a normal dinner party — the point of the event was to introduce writers and editors to SkinnyStix, a supplement that you take 15 minutes before eating that helps you feel satiated so you don’t overindulge. This party certainly proved the point that even with the most wonderful food and drink you feel full fast.

The party was hosted by Jenny McCarthy — who could not have been lovelier (in looks and personality). She had recently used it to help her get back into fighting weight for her wedding to Donnie Wahlberg and clearly now knew the secret to keeping her figure in check.

Whether you need to drop some weight yourself or keep yourself from going overboard at holiday fêtes, SkinnyStix just might be your answer, too. The heavily researched, clinically validated Zantrex SkinnyStix ($29.99 for 21 stix) is a mood-elevating, delicious tasting powder that you mix with 16 ounces of water and drink 15 minutes before your main meals. You can also add it to smoothies, juices and other liquids to increase energy and alertness or to improve your weight-loss efforts.

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Pop-Up Braid Bar

If you’re in the NYC area this Saturday, October 25th, 2014 you won’t want to miss this cool Pop-up Braid Bar, hosted by KLORANE at the Birchbox Store in SoHo (433 West Broadway, New York, NY) from 2-6 pm.

Top editorial and celebrity hairstylists Casey Geren and Adam Maclay will be on hand to deliver the hottest braids of the moment using Klorane products, including their award-winning Dry shampoo with oat milk! With the purchase of any Klorane product you’ll also receive a full-size Shampoo with flax fiber ($15 value), a must-have for sexy, voluminous hair!

To RSVP directly: http://join.birchbox.com/storeevents/

 

(photography courtesy of Pinterest)