Tag Archives: by Nancy Weinberg Simon

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

How far are you willing to go for a slimmer waist?

Many years ago I read a wonderful book, Lisa See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, that opened my eyes to the ancient practice of foot binding. This practice had very young girls repeatedly having their feet broken and tightly wrapped so that they wouldn’t grow larger than 4 inches or so. This began as early as the 10th or 11th Century and didn’t fall out of fashion until the early 20th Century. It seems that women have long been suffering for the sake of beauty.

The things we’ll do: Noses are broken and reset straighter. Ears are pinned back so they don’t stick out. Teeth are filed down and covered with crowns. Breasts are enlarged or lifted or minimized. Fat is sucked out of thighs and abdomens. Skin has acid applied and toxins injected to smooth it. Women still suffer and we do so willingly.

A not-so-secret beauty secret that’s trending right now and practiced by more than a few celebrities is wearing a waist cincher — Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba and Amber Rose have all posted selfies of themselves with it. This little device is said to dramatically whittle your midsection leaving you with a flatter tummy, a more hourglass figure and better posture. Many users have reported a reduction of 1″ or more when worn up to 10 hours a day for at least 30 days. I tried it for a day or two and for me it was too tight and too uncomfortable. Apparently I’m not willing to suffer that much. It might not be in your best interest to either. When your lungs and ribs are compressed this way it makes it much harder to breathe.  Women have been know to pass out when it’s been worn too tight or kept on for too long. There’s also the fact the many doctors believe it’s not all that effective and real harm can be done.

For now, I’ll stick with a mostly healthy diet and regular exercise regimen, but if you’re looking to slim and contour your waist and diet and exercise aren’t getting you where you want to be, it might be time to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can help you get real results. There are numerous options including the following:

  • A Tummy Tuck or Abdominosplasty is a surgical procedure performed to remove excess fat and skin and, in many cases, weakened or separated muscles are restored as well.
  • Liposuction, Lipoplasty or Liposculpture is a procedure that actually breaks up and removes fat from the body via suction.
  •  CoolSculpting is a non-surgical procedure that uses controlled cooling for fat reduction.

A board-certified plastic surgeon will know what’s the best choice or combination of procedures for you, depending on your particular anatomy and frame. Click here to find one in your area.

Note: For more of my stories on aesthetic procedures, check out my blog posts on Smart Beauty Guide.

 

(featured image via pinterest)

 

A NOSE JOB WITHOUT SURGERY? YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT!

Non-surgical aesthetic procedures are hotter than hot, so it was only a matter of time before liquid nose jobs started gaining in popularity. If you’re not happy with your nose but you’re hesitant to go under the scalpel you don’t have to suffer in silence, or suffer at all for that matter. Non surgical rhinoplasty might be just what you’re looking for. The procedure can make a world of a difference in how your nose looks. It can make it appear straighter, give it more symmetry and balance, fix an indented contour, add definition to the tip and even be used to fix post-operative rhinoplasty indentations, all with very natural results.

Chester, New Jersey – based plastic surgeon, Dr. Larry Weinstein, MD, F.A.C.S. has been using fillers to touch up noses for over twenty years, so clearly it’s not exactly a new thing in the field of aesthetics. The difference though is the number of options available to get the job done. Dr. Weinstein has used Radiesse, Collagen and hyalaronic fillers, his latest preference being Juvederm PLUS. He also likes the possibility of Voluma, which he says “may have application for dorsum saddle nose deformities.” If you are a candidate for a non-surgical nose job, your doctor will be able to choose the right filler or fillers for your particular concerns.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • The actual procedure can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes.
  • It can be pain-free when a topical anesthetic is applied 20-30 minutes before the procedure.
  • The results are immediate. You’ll walk out of the office with your new and improved nose.
  • If you’re not happy with the results, the procedure can be reversed quickly and easily with an injection of hyaluronidase to break down the hyaluronic acid fillers used for this procedure.
  • Depending on your doctor, the filler and the amount of work being done, the cost is approximately $650 to $900.
  • It’s not permanent. You can expect the results to last anywhere from 3 months to 2 years, depending on which fillers are chosen and how quickly your body metabolizes the product.
  • To maintain the results you’d need to re-inject the nose.

It’s important to note that though this procedure can make you love looking in the mirror, everyone is not a candidate for non-surgical rhinoplasty. Your doctor can advise whether it is an option for you. With a liquid nose job, the upside is that you can have instant and often dramatic results with virtually no downtime and without the pain, recovery period and higher cost that surgery requires. The downside to this procedure is that the results are not permanent so you’ll have to repeatedly get re-injected which can certainly add up financially, plus the procedure is not without risks of its own.

Think it might be worth trying? Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to determine if this procedure is right for you.

Note: For more of my stories on aesthetic procedures, check out my blog posts on Smart Beauty Guide.

(featured image courtesy of pinterest)

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

easy workout hair = gorgeous post-workout hair

How to look like a cool chick while you work out and soooooo gorgeous afterwards? Do the double bun!

To do:

  • Divide hair into two sections.
  • Apply just a wee bit of a smoothing cream or a light gel.
  • Twist each section and secure into buns at the nape of the neck.
  • Post-workout, take down, untwist and finger comb for gorgeous waves.

 

(featured image via pinterest)

A PARIS FASHION WEEK SPRING/SUMMER 2016 LOOK TO WEAR NOW

I love this look created by Shiseido Artistic Director, Dick Page, for Acne Studios Spring/Summer 2016 Paris show. I find it fresh, season-less, timeless and I’m definitely not waiting until Spring to try it on for size!

While the face, brows and eyes are kept fresh, understated and beautiful, the bright red lip is the “key to the look,” applied slightly exaggerated with a lip brush.

Want to recreate it? Here’s what Page used:

Shiseido Perfect Rouge in Dragon ($25) has a creamy texture and rich, highly pigmented formula so one coat is all you need for vibrant, gorgeous color. Hyaluronic acid helps keep lips moist, smooth, healthy all day long. Page used a lip brush for a precise application.

Shiseido IBUKI Refining Moisturizer Enriched ($45) was used as a light base under the foundation. It goes to work correcting visible pores, uneven skin tone and texture. Apply after cleansing to renew complexion and leave it looking healthy and hydrated.

 

For more red lip tips, click here to see my write-up on Beauty in the Bag.

xoxoNancy

 

EXPERT ADVICE FOR AGING EYES

How are you feeling right now? Maybe you’re happy, sad, excited, scared or something else entirely. One look into your eyes and the world knows — after all, the eyes aren’t called the window to your soul for nothing! But, when the eyes are  camouflaged by distracting wrinkles, bags or sagging skin, the message you’re sending out may not be what you’re really feeling inside. The way your eyes age might make you look tired or angry (not to mention old!) all the time.

When it comes to aging of the eyes, young and old alike complain about what bothers them the most. Santa Rosa, California-based Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon, Heather J. Furnas, M.D.,  says “sun damage and genetics play a major roll in how eyelids droop, wrinkle, and look aged.” These and other variables determine whether you’ll look old before your time.

The good news is, “as long as there is a clear indication for treatment and the patient has reasonable expectations and is healthy, it’s never to early or late to treat these problems,” says Furnas. Though eye creams can be a very effective solution for dark circles, for most other eye issues you’ll need to dig a little deeper.

Here, Furnas shares the biggest eye issues broken down by age and your best treatment options:

EYE ISSUES BY AGE:

  • In your 20s: Occasionally congenital fat deposits of either the upper or lower lids and early crow’s feet.
  • In your 30s: Early crow’s feet, early hooding of the upper lids, and congenital bulging of the fat of the lower lids that becomes more pronounced.
  • In your 40s: Crow’s feet, drooping of the lateral brows, hooding of the upper lids, bulging of the fat of the lower lids, lines and early folds of the lower lids. Tear troughs begin to deepen.
  • In your 50s: Same as above, but upper lid skin droops more, upper lid fat (especially alongside the nose) bulges more, lower lid fat protrudes more. Tone of the lower lids may start to relax. Lower lids skin may fall into deeper folds. The upper lid may begin to droop so that it doesn’t open as widely as in youth (called “ptosis”). The skin thins and becomes crepy.
  • In your 60s: The above process progresses. Peripheral eyesight may be obscured by hanging skin. Tone of the lower lid may begin to worsen.
  • In your 70s+: Worsening of all of the above.

 

BEST BETS TO FIX: 

CROW’S FEET/DROOPING OF THE LATERAL BROWS: Botox

DEEP LINES:  Laser Therapy or Chemical Peel + Botox + products (Retin-A around crow’s feet)

EXTRA SKIN/BULGING FAT: Blepharoplasty of upper and lower lids. This can be combined with laser or chemical peel. Ptosis repair can be done for the inability of the upper lid to fully open. The lax lower lid can be surgically tightened.

DEEPENING TEAR TROUGHS: Filler or fat injections or fat repositioning during blepharoplasty.

 

So there you have it…the knowledge and the know-how to address all your aged eye concerns. xoxoNancy

 

 

(featured image from www.opensky.com)

 

 

 

CHECK OUT VILLOID: STYLE ICON ALEXA CHUNG’S NEW FASHION APP YOU’RE SURE TO LOVE

If anyone can revolutionize the way people get dressed it’s Alexa Chung! “I suppose that scene in Clueless where the computer puts an outfit together from Cher’s wardrobe really stayed with me,” says Chung. “Clothes are fun, making mistakes is fun, being inspired is fun.”

VILLOID — her new social style app — actually helps you celebrate the process of getting dressed. The app was designed to “make shopping easier,” a wish shared by almost all who care about their appearance. VILLOID blends Pinterest and Instagram but specifically targets fashion and it even has a BUY button. You can simply browse street style looks and mood boards. Then, share your style by uploading products and photographs, follow friends and fellow style mavericks, love boards and individual items. And if there’s something you absolutely must have , simply click on the buy button to purchase it. See…easy peasy!

The app is now available in App stores globally and the Android version is set to launch late 2015/early 2016.

 

 

Post-Procedure Tips: Expert advice on how to heal faster

You don’t have to be a fan of Keeping Up with the Kardashians or Botched to know that there’s a whole lot of cosmetic procedures going on…just take a look around you. If the statistics are any indication — and they most certainly are — the appointments being booked aren’t just for celebs and socialites. Those that partake come in all shapes and sizes as well as from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, income levels and careers. They do it to improve what they perceive to be imperfections so that they can feel better about their appearance or improve their social lives and/or job opportunities.

Statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery show that over the past 15 years, surgical procedures have increased by 73% while non-surgical procedures have increased by a whopping 356%. These are huge numbers! With injectables like neurotoxins and fillers, lasers, plastic surgery and the like continuing to rise, it’s no surprise that those who do indulge would want to cut down on the swelling and bruising that comes with the territory. But, is that even possible?

“Individuals swell and bruise at different rates mostly because of the wealth of the blood supply each person has in that particular site. In general the face and hands have the most robust blood supply, and hence swell most. The good blood supply also affords faster healing and better scarring,” says  renowned New York City-based plastic surgeon Dr. Robert Tornambe M.D., F.A.C.S., who specializes in the face, breast and body. He goes on to explain that swelling is a normal part of the healing process since any trauma can set off the body’s immune system and healing process. The way it works is blood (which carries nutrients and clotting factors) is shunted to that area causing it to swell but also bringing the necessary components to allow healing. Bruising is the result of more blood to the area, but does not have an effect on healing. Patients who are taking aspirin or blood thinners, or those who have recently had certain foods (including some types of mushrooms often found in chinese food) before surgery will bruise more readily as will other patients for no other apparent reason than a genetic component.

Dr. Tornambe adds that “excessive, continued swelling can have deleterious effects on healing because if overly excessive, it can actually choke off blood supply, severely compromising healing.” He recommends the following 5 tips to help speed up the recovery process:

  1. Turmeric, honey and cinnamon are natural anti-inflammatories. Take in moderation.
  2. Though there is no hard scientific proof some people find echinacea effective to decrease bruising.
  3. Elevate the area as much as possible for the first 48 hours to decrease swelling.
  4. Ice therapy will help with swelling. For the first 48 hours post-treatment apply ice pack 10-20 min on, 20 minutes off, repeat.
  5. After 2-3 days post treatment, warm soaks can help minimize bruising.

So there you go. Ingest natural anti-inflammatories and echinacea, elevate the area, ice on/ice off for the first 48 hours followed with warm soaks means less time hiding under big glasses and burkas and more time out there strutting your new and improved stuff!

 

(featured image, webmd.com)

 

 

 

WANT FULL, SHINY, SEXY HAIR?

If you’re looking for fuller, stronger, shinier hair, look no further than your pantry. Wendy Rose Gould beauty expert for the hair tutorial and advice site www.Latest-Hairstyles.com says you can make your conditioner much more effective with a few add-ins. Simply mix 1/4 cup of your usual conditioner with 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/4 cup black seed oil. After styling, you’ll look like you’ve just stepped out of the salon!

 

14CupCoconutOil-14CupBlackseedOil-14Cup-Conditioner_zpscvxoqb2e

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(featured image via pinterest)

find us elsewhere

subscribe via email

Enter your email address: