Get your Hair Cut…Change the World!

Mark your calendars! If you’re looking for something fun (and worthwhile!) to do on Monday, April 22nd (aka Earth Day 2013) Aveda is planning to set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for most money raised for a charity by haircuts in a 24-hour period. With this global cut-a-thon, Aveda hopes to raise $5 million for clean water.

If you’re in the NYC area, stop by the Aveda Institute at 233 Spring Street between 12:00 and 8:00pm for haircuts priced from $20 – $40, specialty blow outs for $10, a silent auction, complementary massage, catered food and more! Not going to be in New York City? Click here to see what’s happening at your local salons.

(photo courtesy of Aveda)

I’m Obsessed! 21 Drops

21 Drops is genius! I wish I’d thought of it myself…but then again I’m not an Advanced Clinical Essential Oil Specialist like Cary Caster, the company’s founder, who studied in Europe where Aromatherapy is widely recognized as a medical treatment. It’s based upon the principle that oils, extracted from various parts of plants, can be inhaled or absorbed into the bloodstream where they interact with your body, creating balance and wellness.

Caster has developed 21 unique blends formulated to address different concerns you might have…everything from Moodiness to Lack of Confidence to Grief.

  • #1 “Invigorate” gives you a healthy energy boost.
  • #3 “Strength” boosts your confidence so you can achieve your goals.
  • #10 “Calm” helps you do just that. It banishes the drama so you can deal.
  • #18 “Sleep” soothes and quiets your mind so you can rest.

And check out these colorful rollerball bottles! They’re  gorgeous and sized right to stash in your bag or your pocket for a quick pick-me-up whenever the mood strikes.

 

Great New Skincare Line! POE

Product Review: POE

As a beauty expert, I’m asked to test new products all the time and I can say without a doubt POE (Purity of Elements) is a new skincare company worth writing about! Founded by a mother/daughter duo (Sheri Poe and Danielle Birrittella) looking for a simpler skincare regimen, there are two basic lines, one preventative and one restorative with anti-aging products for radiant skin at any age.

I sampled from the restorative kit:

  1. I applied a generous amount of the Mandarin Marine Moisture Mask to clean skin and left it on for 10 minutes. This gel felt cool as it dried and I could actually feel it working. After 10 minutes, I rinsed with tepid water and saw an immediate improvement. Packed with Vitamin C and Ginger Root Extract, it gave me back my healthy glow!
  2. After patting dry, I followed the mask with the H2Poe Hydrating Serum. It’s formulated with Lactic and Hyaluronic Acids, Peptides, Collagen, Antioxidants and other super-charged ingredients for major rejuvenating effects.
  3. Lastly, I topped off the serum with the Radical Renewal Hydrating Cream, a super-moisturizer that not only hydrates but helps reverse damage thanks to ingredients like Retinol, Avocado Oil and Fatty Acids.

Fantastic results! POE Skin Care Collection, $18 – $84, available at www.purityofelements.com.

 

 

Taste Test: Chapstick Cupcake Creations…

Product Review: ChapStick Cupcake Creations

Cupcakes are kind of special in our home. Ten year old Emma, takes her baking very, very seriously. A few years ago, she begged me to stop using boxed mixes for cakes and brownies and requested I stock the pantry with proper baking staples like self-rising flour and dutch cocoa powder. Everything had to be made from scratch! She has plans to open her own bakery when she’s grown up and she certainly practices enough now, making her scrumptious treats a few times a week. She even sells them around the neighborhood to raise money for animal shelters and other causes.

When ChapStick Cupcake Creations arrived for review I can’t say I was happy to see them…It had been years since I’d used ChapStick and my pre-conceived notion was that it would be waxy and thick with a medicinal-ish taste, the way they used to be when I was a kid. But Emma was excited to give it a shot…after all, it is cupcake themed.

Boy, was I ever wrong! Both flavors (Cake Batter and Velvet Cupcake) glide on smoothly, leaving a light, protective, moisturizing and delicious film behind. No waxy feeling at all…just slick in a very good way and moist. I particularly love Cake Batter which has a warm, almost butterscotch-y flavor. Emma is partial to Velvet Cupcake which tastes sweet and rich like a Red Velvet cupcake and leaves just a hint of color behind.

Check her out wearing ChapStick in Velvet Cupcake and showing off her latest goods!

ChapStick Cupcake Creations, available at Wal-Mart, CVS and Walgreens nationwide for a limited time. Get them now because when they’re gone, they’re gone!

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Before & After: From Junk Room to Home Office

As I previously posted  in “I’ve Got a Secret…” (read here) I love my home…all except the room I’ve had pegged for my home office. With good southern light and decent wood floors it had the potential to be stylish, but it was greatly hampered by extreme clutter and baby blue walls. I knew if I wanted to use it as a home office I’d need to practice some crowd control and ruthless editing.

My first order of business? Declutter! I made three piles: Donate, Put Away and Yard Sale. Because I started feeling nostalgic while going through it all, it took a lot longer than I anticipated. So many of my things have memories attached–for me, it’s what makes a house a home–but I realized if I was going to make any progress and use this room for its intended purposed I’d need to get moving. I bought large bins and stored the things I wasn’t ready to part with (and maybe never would be). I tucked away beautiful drawings my children made when they were small, sentimental letters and cards I’ve received over the years from loved ones, magazines with stories I’ve written and/or been a part of. I took lamps, mirrors and other accessories and stored them in the attic because periodically I like to switch up my rooms and certain items are keepers. The ones that didn’t tug at my heart will be in my upcoming yard sale.

The only two items from the room that made the cut were my desk from West Elm (for its practicality) and a stained glass window I bought off-season in the Hamptons when my husband and I were dating (because it makes me happy). I pushed them to the center of the room and covered them with some sheets before painting the room in Benjamin Moore’s Calm, a wonderful shade of white that makes me feel at home. To furnish the rest of the room on a budget, I brought in an Ikea bookcase as well as a cozy, charcoal corner chair, creamy white shag rug and green storage baskets, all from Home Goods.

I added a few personal touches like  a family heirloom art deco clock for my desk and some favorite family photos atop the bookshelves…and because I realize the importance of all our senses and I love candles I placed a new favorite, Bath & Body Works Candle in First Bloom. When lit, it fills the whole room with this delicious, “I could be standing in a garden” scent. Amazing!!!

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I couldn’t be happier. My home office is clean, organized and best of all, it’s a room I can be productive in. I’m still looking for a few special items to complete the look:

  • a proper pillow for the chair. I’m thinking a green or bright pink.
  • curtains to frame the window. Most likely smoky grey linen panels that hang just shy of the floor.
  • an over-sized, vintage chalkboard for my to-do lists.
  • a comfortable, lived-in looking chair for the desk.

 

Sephora Artist Color Box

Quality and quantity coexist in this latest collection from Sephora: 24 waterproof eye shadows, 6 lipglosses, 5 eye pencils, in colors you’ll actually want to wear and all for only $34 ($145 value).

Sephora Collection Artist Color Box Makeup Palette, $34, available at www.sephora.com.

Help Solve this Easter Mystery!

Since Emma and Sam were babies, we’ve been celebrating the Easter Bunny. On the Saturday before Easter, we have great fun dyeing our eggs. Then, when the kids are sleeping the “Easter Bunny” sneaks in and hides them in the backyard. When we wake up in the morning (super early I might add!) we all go outside to hunt for the eggs before the kids find their Easter baskets.

Normally this goes off without a hitch. This year was a little different, though. Everything was going according to plan, but when we went outside to gather the eggs they were all gone! Not one out of a dozen could be found! The kids looked and looked and when they couldn’t find any, my husband and I got in on the action. We knew where they should be. The crook of the birch tree, under the grill, in the ivy by the fence, behind the hydrangea bush, etc., etc., etc. Not one was where it was supposed to be! The kids looked bewildered and upset, tears sprang to their eyes, we were confused and numb. WTF!!!

My husband thinks animals got them (but how could they get all twelve eggs and not leave any bright, broken shells behind) …I think someone is playing a mean-spirited joke (but again, how could they find a dozen eggs in the dark without missing one)…A neighbor’s early April Fool’s Day trick? Maybe…but, who?

Sleuths out there…what do you think happened?

 

The Best Body Scrub!

My best body scrub experience ever was at Grand Lido Sans Souci Hotel in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I was led down a winding, flower-filled path to a private cabana on the cliffs where an expert therapist was waiting. It was sense overload in the best way possible. I could hear the sound of the ocean below, smell the tropical blooms and feel the gentle breeze on my skin…all while being massaged and scrubbed from head to toe. Perfection!

Since a flight to Jamaica isn’t on my schedule anytime soon, it looks like I’ll have to do the dirty work myself. After being covered up for most of fall and winter I have extra dry elbows, knees, heels and even my shins look like they could use a good scrubbing. Obviously, I haven’t been exfoliating as religiously as I should be (2-3 times per week is recommended) and I’ve paid the price. But, softer, more radiant skin is just a scrub away. Here, some of my favorite picks:

  1. My absolute favorite is Lamas Botanicals Pumpkin Spice Polish, $17.99. I discovered it over 10 years ago and never plan on switching. I keep it in the shower and use it on my face but it’s great on the body, too.There’s just something so special about the delicious scent and the texture of the grainy buffing beads.
  2. Origins Incredible Spreadable Smoothing Ginger Body Scrub, $28, has an irresistible ginger fragrance that lingers.
  3. Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Scrub, $36, is a spa-strength scrub that smoothes even the roughest elbows and knees.

*Always follow with a rich body cream.

How to Get Perfect Brows: Q&A with Ramy Gafni

The perfect brow is possible when you have brow guru, Ramy Gafni, in your corner. Since we can’t all get to Ramy, I thought I’d bring Ramy to you.

What are the beauty benefits of having the right eyebrow shape? The right brow shape is like makeup that you don’t wash off. It can lift your eyes, make you look younger or more sophisticated. It’s the easiest way to improve your appearance dramatically without plastic surgery.
Right now, what’s trending in brows? I’m happy to report that for the past several years we’ve seen the trend toward fuller, bolder eyebrows. I’ve always advocated what I call the “fully actualized eyebrow” which is a well groomed brow that’s as full as possible, not too short, not too far apart, with an arch that follows one’s bone structure.
How can a woman find the right brow shape for her face shape? It’s ideal to have your brows shaped at least once by a well recommended expert because its difficult to be objective with your own face. If you don’t have the opportunity to see an expert, look at famous actresses that you might resemble to see what your brows should look like.
If someone has over-plucked or sparse brows, can she fake a fuller brow and still have it look natural?
Yes! You can fake it til you make it! Fill in a sparse or thin brow with a wax based pen, pencil or pomade. Choose a shade that’s two shades lighter than your hair color. If in doubt, choose a universally flattering taupe. Fill the entire brow, not just the sparse area. The brow should look uniform. Apply product directly on the brow hairs, not above or below the brows. After applying, it’s very important to brush through the product. This removes the excess product and blends what’s left behind so you end up with great looking eyebrows, not made up looking brows.
What products are necessary to get and maintain a good brow? good tweezers, safety scissors, a small brush, brow filler if necessary. From RAMY Cosmetics, I use the Ramy Tweezers by Tweezerman ($25), the Ramy Scissor by Tweezerman ($18), the Perfect Brow Wand ($28), Miracle Brow ($28), the Browtility Brush ($21), all available at www.Ramy.com.
*Ramy’s long list of celebrity clients includes Michelle Williams and Taylor Swift.

 

Something to Hide…

I need to give a shout-out to my favorite beauty product of all time! Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage can’t be beat–it completely covers dark circles, blemishes, neutralizes redness and lasts all day. Two shades per compact lets you customize your color for a perfect match every time.

Even when I’m having a “makeup-free” day, I use this to even out my skin-tone–a little under the eyes (always layered on top of eye cream) and around the nose area (where I’m prone to a bit of redness) and I can face the day. When wearing foundation, apply the concealer afterwards to see where you really need it. A little goes a long way and one compact will last you a very long time. Mine lasts 6 – 9 months and I wear it every day!

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, $30 at www.lauramericer.com.

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