Tag Archives: by Nancy Weinberg Simon

What Stylish Girls Know That You Don’t

The mixed-temp days of fall makes it very hard to give up some of my summer wardrobe faves entirely. I might even take things a bit too far by wearing flip flops until the first snowflake hits the ground…but that’s just me. Though summer shoes should most definitely be tucked away until at least Spring, you can make your warm-weather clothes work overtime and look extra-stylish in the process. Here, some savvy layering know-how.

Keep your summery, flowy dresses, skirts and even shorts and pair them with opaque tights, boots or booties and your choice of the following add-ons:

 

(photography courtesy of Pinterest)

 

 

Wake up to Better Skin

Product Review: Korres Greek Yoghurt Advanced Nourishing Sleeping Facial, $45 at www.sephora.com.

I’m a superstitious chick so when a good friend of mine whom I hadn’t seen in a while told me how great my skin looked I knew it was only a matter of time before all hell broke loose. Well, wouldn’t you know it, 48 hours later my complexion did a 180. It went from glowing and radiant to ruddy and stressed.  I know it  couldn’t have had anything to do with the sleepless night, dry heat and the delicious chocolate covered salted caramels I’d been consuming. It had to be her comment!

It was the perfect opportunity for me to test Korres Greek Yoghurt Sleeping Facial, said to repair stressed skin overnight. Before trying, I was a bit of a non-believer since it usually takes more than a few days to see a difference with a skincare product but I was willing to give it go. I applied liberally, crossed my fingers and went to bed early. In the morning I was back to bright, fresh, healthy looking skin. Really!

Maybe it works so fast because of the soothing greek yoghurt concentrate or the combination of ingredients that include Tumeric extract, Sunflower Wax, Jojoba oil and Vitamin E. Whatever the reason, I’m just glad it does!

Nancy Answers: How do I keep my eye makeup from smudging and smearing?

Dear Nancy, I don’t wear a lot of eye makeup but what I do wear always ends up smeared under my eyes. What can I do to stop this from happening? Sincerely, A

Dear A, There’s a very fine line between good intentional smudgy-smeary (think Carine Roitfield) and unkempt smudgy-smeary (think Courtney Love). It works on Carine because she’s polished and french and can get away with more…it’s a confidence thing! Since you don’t want to risk looking like the later, here’s an easy fix.

Chances are your makeup is smearing because you’re using cream based formulas like undereye concealer, cream eyeshadow and/or creamy eyeliner. Oil-based formulas can break down your mascara and cause it to smear. To prevent this use a small makeup brush  to dust translucent powder over the entire eye area after you’ve applied your products. It will help set your makeup and keep it in place. Still struggling? Toss a corrector pen in your bag to easily erase any smudges that might appear. Dior’s new Diorshow Flash Corrector works well. xoxoNancy

(photography courtesy of weheartit.com)

Blow & Go!

You know that feeling after you leave the salon. Your hair has body, bounce and shine and you know you look great. But no matter how hard you try to replicate that look yourself,  you can’t quite master it. Enter Blow In Blow Out.

Tara Galatt, CEO and Owner of the soon-to-debut Blow In Blow Out in Summit, NJ knew this was something she had to do after experiencing a blow dry bar while on a trip to Los Angeles. She set about finding the perfect location in a walking town where women like to take care of themselves and would appreciate this affordable luxury.

Blow In Blow Out aims to be the best at one thing. The perfect blowout. With a menu including aromatherapy scalp treatments, shampoo and conditioning serums and six signature styling options (all for only $35!) plus braids, ponies and updos, Blow In Blow Out is poised to take the town by storm. I for one, can’t wait!

Blow In Blow Out, 330 Springfield Ave., Summit, NJ, 07901, (908) 273-4947 www.blowin-blowout.com

5 Lucky Readers Will Win This Cellulite Blaster!!!

 

The good thing about cellulite is that it doesn’t cause any health problems. The flip side is that it’s so damn unattractive. You can help smooth things out a little by following a proper diet rich in fresh fruits and veggies, getting plenty of exercise and massaging the areas where you do have cellulite but if you’re prone to it, it’s a tricky thing to get rid of.

You can tip the odds in your favor with BioElixia BodyShaper Cellulite Contour Creme, $49.50 at BioElixia.com. Thanks to a groundbreaking delivery system proven to increase the absorption of key ingredients by up to 5 times it’s scientifically proven to reduce that “orange peel” appearance by an average of 57%. Use it twice a day for 4 weeks and you’ll notice visibly smoother, firmer skin.

Win It!!!  To enter, just leave a comment here or on my facebook page and 5 lucky winners will be randomly selected. Get an extra entry by forwarding to a friend, just comment that you’ve done so. Deadline is end of day Monday, October 7, 2013.

 

(photography courtesy of BioElixia)

 

 

 

How to Dramatically Improve Your Complexion

Product Review: Ageless Derma Stem Cell and Peptide Anti-Wrinkle Cream, $65 at agelessderma.com

Since I only report on the products I truly believe in I’m happy to inform you I have another great one to share with you.

Ageless Derma’s Stem Cell and Peptide Anti-Wrinkle Cream combines seven powerful and clinically proven anti-aging ingredients for one of the most effective anti-aging creams available without a prescription. Containing plant stem cells as well as special ingredients that mimic the effects of botox and fillers without any injections it greatly diminishes lines and wrinkles (including crows feet!) and improves skin-tone and elasticity for a firmer, smoother, brighter, younger looking complexion.

Powerhouse ingredients:

  1. Argireline reduces the depth of wrinkles in the face, especially in the forehead and around the eyes, by reducing muscle contraction.
  2. Coenzyme 10 is an antioxidant that helps the skin to retain moisture and prevents damage to collagen and elastin production.
  3. Matrixyl 3000 improves skin tone and elasticity.
  4. PhytoCellTec™ Malus Domestica uses the stem cells of a rare Swiss apple famed for its longevity – the Uttwiler Spätlauber – to improve the longevity of human skin cells, protect the skin from UV damage, and assist genes that repair DNA.
  5. Sodium Hyaluronate draws moisture to the skin and maintains the integrity of the barrier function.
  6. Syn®-Coll mimics the body’s mechanisms to produce collagen.
  7. Vialox Powder significantly lessens muscle contraction as an injection-free altnerative to Botox.

To purchase: Ageless Derma Stem Cell and Peptide Anti-Wrinkle Cream, $65 at agelessderma.com

 

 

 

Pucker Up!

Product Review: ChapStick mixstix, $2.99 at Walgreens or www.drugstore.com

If you’ve been reading me for a while you know from an earlier post how surprised I was to fall in love with ChapStick! FYI, I was actually feeling a bit anxious that my limited edition balm in Cake Batter (such an amazing flavor!) was almost gone and then ChapStick’s new mixstixs arrived…whew!

ChapStick has taken it a step further with two-sided lip balms (ie. two different yummy flavors!) that can be worn alone or combined for a third flavor. Choose from Lemon Berry Sorbet, Strawberry Banana Smoothie and Green Apple Caramel, each containing 11 moisturizing ingredients for soft, smooth, deliciously kissable lips for 8 hours.

Though I do apply it throughout the day, my favorite time to use it is bedtime. Hmmmm, not  surprisingly, my husband loves it too!

 

 

Bling it On!

Bold patterns have their place in my closet but I prefer clean lines, minimal details and basics for the majority of my wardrobe while injecting personality with a “notice-me” shoe, bag or other statement piece.

Lately, it’s blingy, bold necklaces that have been taking me from boring to seriously cool. I pair them with jeans and tees, button-downs and even sweatshirts or simple sweaters and sheaths.

Trust me…they make the outfit! Here, my current favorites at every price point.

 

You Glow Girl!

Product Review: Pixi Perfection Palette in Lit-Up Lovely, $28 at www.pixibeauty.com

I’ve never been a huge fan of makeup palettes. I usually end up loving one or two shades and when “the chosen ones” are gone, I’m done with it. The second I saw Pixi’s Lit-Up Lovely, I knew that was about to change–I knew I’d used each and every shade and often! All the shades are neutral and sheer (even the darkest ones) so they truly complement all skin tones making it easy to create a variety of different looks with this one palette.

Eyes: There are 16 eye shadows ranging from vanilla to gold, peach, pink, bronze, chocolate and everything in between. They have a nice shimmer to them and can be worn alone or layered. Whether you’re going for a simple swipe of color or anything from pale and icy to dark and smoky, this palette can do it.

Cheeks: The 3 cheek powders are luminous so you’ll want to be stingy, a little goes a long way. Depending on your complexion they can double as highlighters.

Face: The face powders (a highlighter and a bronzer) are more matte and very natural looking. I like the highlighter for subtle contouring and the bronzer for a natural sun-kissed glow.

Pixi Perfection Palette in Lit-Up Lovely will give you a luminous, flawless face. Talk about appropriately named!

 

 

The Not So Forbidden Fruit

The fall season always gives me visions of apple pie and apple sauce and baked apples and apple everything so this past weekend we piled into the car and headed about 30 minutes away to Alstede Farms, a great pick-your-own farm (and so much more) about 30 minutes away. If you’ve never taken a bite of an apple straight from the tree I highly recommend you run, don’t walk, to your nearest pick-your-own farm and give it a go. Every apple is crisp, juicy and better than anything you could possibly buy in a grocery store.

Besides apples Alstede’s has pears, peaches, flowers, eggplant, blackberries, corn, potatoes and so much more, but it was apples we came for so after petting a few horses, goats and sheep and checking out the fancy chickens, turkeys and peacocks we headed into the orchards to pick. Of course we tasted a few just to make sure they’d be as scrumptious as we knew they would be and then we filled up our carton as high as it would go. When it was all said and done we had over 20 lbs. of apples!

We planned on baking something that very night but were too exhausted to do anything more than watch the Giants get defeated. A few days after putting them in the fridge and snacking on them every chance we got I noticed the pile was dwindling…it was now or never! We decided on The Barefoot Contessa’s Old Fashioned Apple Crisp. After school yesterday the kids and I got to work peeling, coring and slicing apples, zesting and juicing lemons and oranges, adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that and before we knew it we had the most delicious dessert ever. Truly!

Ready to give it a go yourself? You will not be disappointed! Click here for recipe.

 

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