Botox or No Tox? Biotulin Injection Free Alternatives

Biotulin offers an injection free alternative to Botox.

This is the first in the Spring Fling Series of new, natural and lighter skincare products for the coming 2017 season. I can remember when Botox Parties were all the rage going on in select NYC apartments and lofts. What were they thinking? Horror stories of injections gone bad quickly appeared thereafter but was there any surprise? I know my dermatologist also began offering aesthetic procedures at his office such as facial peels in addition to cosmetic surgery because there was a demand for something a little extra. If you are not quite ready to go under the knife (or needle), keep reading!

Dermaroller with 0.5 mm Micro Needles

New Release: Certified Organic Skin Care & Supplements - Sublime Beauty Naturals

The new face of organic beauty: Natural Skincare Products and Nutritional Supplements.

Winter is all but here and if you live in the northern hemisphere, you may begin to notice subtle changes in your skin. Less oil production can result in a dryer texture due to diminished moisture in the air. I enjoy outdoor sports including running and cycling so the elements can really take their toll. Added to this is the concern with fragranced and chemically laden skincare products. One by one I've been phasing them out and replacing them with pure, organic skincare products. Additionally, I've upped my nutritional supplements to include natural internal support for my skin. So, here's a snapshot of my current protocol:

Glowing skin, head to toe modeling this fall at New York Fashion Week

New Release: Sublime Beauty Naturals
This is a new line of highly effective, Certified Organic skin care products. I covered pairing Sublime Beauty Natural's Zen Power Serum with the Mira-Skin's Ultrasound Kit which you can read HERE.  I have been using the Zen Power Serum prior to the addition of Ultrasound treatments and have seen my skin transform: more supple, increased moisture and firmer texture. This organic serum is a rich blend of peptides, vitamins and most importantly hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is present in high quantities in young skin and begins to diminish as we age. 

Zen Power Serum is rich in peptides, vitamins and hyaluronic acid.

Zen Power Serum is very light, non-greasy and easily absorbed. No artificial fragrances or additives means eliminating irritation and breakouts. Better still, I feel good about using an effective, yet certified organic product on my skin. My skin speaks for itself. Clear, smooth and healthy, NYC makeup artists all tell me I have an amazing complexion.

Zen Power Serum + Zen Face Polish

Zen Face Polish is another key addition to the Sublime Beauty Naturals organic collection. Exfoliation is very important in skincare. If you do not slough off the top dead dermal layers, whatever product you apply may have a hard time being absorbed. The Zen Face Polish is a very fine, non-irritating scrub. It contains soothing oils of Avocado, Coconut and Jojoba so it doesn't leave your skin feeling stripped. I use this scrub about once a week to keep my pores clear. Made with the same microdermabrasion crystals, (Aluminum Silica or Bauxite) used in professional spas. See all of the new Certified Organic skin care products available at SublimeBeautyNaturals.com

Zen Face Polish is Certified Organic.

Adding Natural, Organic Oils
Once you've taken care of exfoliation and deep hydration, you'll want to include natural, organic oils both inside and out. These days nearly everything we eat is "low-fat" or "no-fat". It might be popular as a marketing tool but the truth is, we need oil in our diet. Likewise in the winter-time when our natural oil production is slowed, applying a little oil to your face at bedtime can make a big difference in moisture retention.

Natural oils to boost your skin's moisture levels

Zen Pure Essential Oil Blends
These are pure, jojoba oil based essential oil blends. Certified Organic, these can be added to your skincare regimen or products with ease. The Zen De-Stress has calming chamomile, lavender and neroli (orange blossom oil). The oils in this blend are perfect for topping off your favorite serum for a restful night's sleep. 

Vacationing in The Hamptons

Likewise the Immune Boost is the perfect travel companion. It contains Eucalyptus, Oregano, Cinnamon and Clove oils, all known to be effective against bacteria and viruses. Add a few drops to your bath water once you check into your hotel to give your immune system an extra boost.

My essential oil blends came with me on my trip to The Hamptons. (Montauk Point, LI)

Pure Organic Sesame Oil
Sesame Oil can be used medicinally as well as nutritionally. Many people are discovering the benefits of oil pulling for improved oral care. However, I like to add this delicious Sesame Oil to my smoothies and dishes. It has a superior nutty flavor and blends easily into most everything: pancakes, stir-fry, shakes and more.  Sesame Oil is loaded with Omega fatty acids and can help give your skin that glow from within. Used topically, it helps seal in the moisture often lost from indoor heating and dry winter air. Visit SublimeBeautyNaturals.com

Nutty, delicious, organic sesame oil.

New Nutritional Supplements for Beautiful Skin
Along with the Certified Organic Sesame Oil, I like to include other nutrients to support the ceramides, hyaluronic acid and collagen levels in my skin.

Key supplements to try for glowing skin this winter.

Neocell Derma Matrix Collagen Skin Complex comes in an easy to mix, tasteless powder.  This product contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and Amla fruit extract which helps protect against cell-damaging free radicals. Along with their Beauty Bursts, this has become one of my favorite Neocell products. See more collagen supporting supplements at Neocell.com  

Hyaluronic Acid - Blueberry Liquid

Neocell Hyaluronic Acid Blueberry Liquid is a delicious liquid supplement which can be added to most anything: shakes, tea, juices, etc. It is a very fast acting liquid. An added benefit is that it not only increases skin's natural moisture, it helps keep your joints lubricated. My knees and ankles no longer hurt after running a 5 or 10k race and I can feel the difference if I skip taking it for too long. Each bottle gives you 32 servings. Visit Neocell.com

Sublime Beauty Phytoceramides

Sublime Beauty Phytoceramides
Just like hyaluronic acid and collagen, ceramides are natural components of healthy, young skin. The ceramides in this formulation are derived from rice with added vitamins A, C, D and E. All you need is one capsule per day, (I usually take mine in the morning). The gelatin caps are very easy to swallow. See all the new organic skincare and beauty products now from SublimeBeautyNaturals.com

Traveling with my essential skincare products.

Sun Care Over the Winter Months
Please keep in mind that winter means continuing with your sunblock everyday. I like Dr. Obaggi's Solar Shield SPF 50 Matte sunscreen and wear it under my makeup daily. During Cruise and Resort Season, be sure to pack your sunscreen along with your swimsuit.

Obagi's Solar Shield SPF 50 Sunscreen

The rays may be a little less intense this time of year but cumulative sun damage adds up over time. Consider wearing a wool hat with a slight brim or a wool fedora this winter. This will give you more coverage than let's say, a knit hat.

A small brim on your hat can make a big difference.

Products & supplements c/o the manufacturers so included herewith.

Spring Clean Your Beauty Routine - New Natural Skincare Products

Freshen up! Time to spring clean your beauty routine.

Springtime in NY: The (slightly) warmer temperatures this week just makes us want to throw off layers of all sorts including makeup and skincare products. If you've been battling the cold dry air of winter, then now you may not need such heavy creams and foundations. I've rounded up some of the best new skin pampering products and gadgets that may be flying under the radar. While you are at it, this is a good time to toss out your old toothbrush and makeup sponges for a really fresh start this spring. Here we go:

Clean up your act: Sonicare Toothbrush, Ayurvedic Soap & Lotus Softsonic Brush + Cleanser

Philips Sonicare Toothbrush - Spring is time to chuck your old toothbrush. Why not upgrade to a Sonicare?  I've used one for years and usually replace the brush heads every 3-4 months. It does an amazing job of cleaning your teeth and this model, the 2 Series is great for plaque removal.

WaterPik Sonic Toothbrush & WaterFlosser - The Sensonic Professional Plus actually blows the Sonicare Flexcare out of the water...literally! You also get THREE unique brush heads, a carry case and a very well made re-charge stand. This model toothbrush also has a 30 second quadrant pacer and two speeds. It is very effective and in my opinion, a better value than Sonicare. WaterPik Water Flossers have been around for a number of years and this Aquarius designer unit is very posh! Fill it and enjoy water-flossing for incredibly clean teeth. Available at most retail and department stores or visit online at WaterPik.com.

Waterpik products for superior dental health.

Chandrika Ayurvedic Soap - Made in India, it is vegan and free from any type of animal fat. Made with high quality vegetable oils and genuine herbal extracts, it smells of sandalwood and is very gentle on your skin.

Lotus by Dr. K Softsonic Skincare - This is a very soft and gentle sonic cleanser which offers 10,000 sonic vibrations per minute and is waterproof. Much lighter and easier on my skin than my Clarisonic Face Brush, my pores are ultra clean now. Their Foaming Cleanser is good but you can use any type of facial cleanser. This brush travels easier too with the replaceable brush heads lasting between 3-6 months. Made in Korea. Visit Lotus-dr-k.com

Organic, natural skincare creams and lotions for face and body.

100% Natural and Organic Cremes and Lotions for Face & Body
We are literally swimming in chemicals and additives every day through cleaning products, air fresheners, polishes, etc. We don't need to add to this list with creams and lotions we put on our skin. Here are a few new favorites that are VERY pure and made without any additives: Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care Custom Blended Formulations, Incredibalm Whipped Lemon Clarity Body Balm AND Hydrating Face & Neck Anti-Aging Night Balm, Suki Rescue Ultra Protect Body Balm. 

Let it all sink in: Derma Roller and JeNu Wand

The Derma Roller vs JeNu Wand This is getting major buzz on the beauty scene this spring. The Derma Roller has 540 tiny stainless steel needles that you run over your face to: stimulate collagen production, reduce wrinkles and fine lines, reduce enlarged pores, tighten and smooth the skin. Put your serums on and roll over your skin with this device to drive it down into the skin. Relatively painless, I did see an almost immediate improvement after two uses. A bit scary but they are easy to find and relatively inexpensive.

The JeNu Wand This unit uses ultrasonic pulses to drive serums down into the skin. Much more comfortable than the Derma Roller, the success of this unit may depend more on the quality of products you use. I don't really have many lines around my eyes or mouth so I can't say there was a marked improvement after using the JeNu Wand for several weeks. It did seem to increase hydration under my eyes and my lips do appear a little plumper and more moist. If you are looking for more drastic improvement for deeper lines and wrinkles, I think the Derma Roller will give better results. The JeNu Ultrasonic Infuser is rechargeable (charger included) and very easy to use.
Visit JeNu.com Online.

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation and Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Creme Foundation

New Trend in Makeup Foundations
Yves Saint Laurent Fusion Ink Foundation is by NO means a "natural" cosmetic. However I am including it along with NARS New All Day Luminous Foundation & Laura Mercier's Smooth Finish Flawless Fluid as examples of the newer, LIGHTER yet highly pigmented, long wearing products coming out. All three have a lot of dimethicone added to them (which I think is a BIG mistake) so they get major razzies on that point. However, if you are not sensitive to silicones, you may find you are able to get away with just a touch of these foundations as you need so little. I'm literally talking about one DROP of foundation. A minor concession then? 

NARS All Day Luminous Foundation

They look absolutely flawless, natural and feel like nothing on your skin, especially the NARS All Day Luminous Foundation.

Lauren Brooke Cosmetique Natural Creme Foundation This is THE WINNER. 100% Natural vitamins, minerals and pigments blended into a 97.5% Certified Organic Base. 

Formulated with beeswax, jojoba and argan oils, it may be a little rich for hot summer-wear. However, it is a fair trade-off to have an all natural foundation that melts into your skin like butter. Highly prized by makeup artists, MaqPro Palettes from Paris, France (Makeupfirst.com) are also beeswax based and look incredible on the runway. Lots of shades in Warm, Neutral and Cool. Visit Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Online.

Toss your old makeup sponges! Disney Fairy Sponges collaboration with Soho Beauty

Disney Fairy Princess Sponges - I don't know about you but I'm not too old to play with Disney Fairy Princess stuff. "Each fairy sponge grants you a flawless application!" These are very dense "Beauty Blender" type make up sponges which are great for all types of sheering out. These are what you should use to apply the new wax based palettes. They clean up well and are very durable. You get a set of three in the Grace Beauty Aurora Set (Sleeping Beauty) and a single large blender sponge in the Snow White set. See them at SohoBeauty.com

100% Mulberry Satin Pillowcases

Try Sleeping on Satin Pillowcases 
These ultra soft 100% Mulberry Satin Pillowcases from Sleep n Beauty are amazing for your skin and hair. These work to keep your skin smooth and soft partly due to the presence of silk amino acids which pamper both your skin and hair while you sleep. Sleep n Beauty gives you a set of x2 silk pillowcases per box presented as you see here. Change them frequently to help keep your skin clear of acne and breakouts. Spritz with a little Lavender Mist for an extra good night's sleep! Visit SleepnBeauty.com online.

Book a Dermatologist's Check Up...Online
The season's changing weather can bring new challenges to skincare: breakouts, sun damage, increased oiliness, etc.  This would be a good time to reassess your skincare routine moving forward into the warmer months. I had the chance to try out an online dermatologist service called YoDerm for my Acne.
You fill out a brief online form, upload three photos of your face and a certified dermatologist helps you to choose the skin care protocol that's best for you. This includes writing prescriptions for Retin-A and oral medications. This works for me because I am often traveling and may not always be able to get in to see my doctor before I leave. Check them out at YoDerm online.

On the go and ready for summer! Winter Garden Dress by Cindy + Johnny, CA

Makeup: Kett Hydro Foundation, Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick
Sonicare Toothbrush, YSL Foundation, Derma Roller and Soap - mine.
Skincare products and accessories c/o the companies included herewith. 

Backstage Hairstyle Tips from Derek Lam's NYFW 2015 Show

Classic pony as seen in Derek Lam's NYFW 2015 Show at 545 W. 22nd Street. 

Designer Derek Lam had his show over the weekend on Sunday downtown at 545 West 22nd Street. Vera Wang, who I've met and spoke with in person, will be hosting her show in the same location on Tuesday February 17th.

I often get backstage access pass offers to see what products the hairstylists are using for the shows. When I did runway work, we would have a signature hairstyle for the show. The stylists have all sorts of tricks in their bag to help the models achieve that flawless hairstyle that enhances the designer's line. They want you to see the clothes so a neat, pulled back low ponytail is really one of the most polished, classic looks on the runway.


Here's how to pull this look off and what you will need:

Hair Accessories: custom-made leather holders
You can find these classic pony tail holders at most drugstores. Made of Leather, they secure with a little dowel that threads though the two holes in the holder.

Hair Mousse
I'm not a fan of mousse in general but some styles require a bit of definition and structure. I've used Tresemme Extra Firm Control. It offers all day control with humidity resistance. A little goes a long way and I use the smallest amount possible, about a quarter size puff.

Hair Spray
Just like mousse, hair spray is also pretty low on my list of hair care products. I don't like crunchy textures or the build-up often associated with heavy use of these products.
So when I do use hairspray, I've used Nexxus Comb Thru Touchable Hold Finishing Mist. According to the label it: "Creates touchable control for gorgeous bounce and style that lasts." It really is light and shampoos out very easily. My stylist, Ray uses just a spritz of hair spray to keep my hair soft and touchable.

My stylist Ray - Christo Fifth Avenue

My Favorite Hair Styling Tools
I use only 100% boar bristle brushes for styling and smoothing my long hair. They resist static and cause the hair cuticle to lay flat to better reflect light thus increasing shine. Kent Brushes from England are some of the best. I also like my Madora Rake Combs which are very smooth and hand polished. They resist snagging and breaking your hair and are excellent for tangles.
Both are available at the Original George Michael of Madison Avenue Salon, 422 Madison Avenue New York City, NY 10017
Call (212) 752-1177 or visit online at Madora Long Hair Heaven

Madora Pocket and Vanity Rake Combs and Boar Bristle Styling Brush

Prior to this the only PHYTO product I've tried was their Phyto 9 Phytologie Daily Ultra Moisturizing Cream with Macadamia Oil. Ahead of its time, you now see a LOT of hair care products with this precious nut oil.
I've also personally tried these new products,namely the Mousse Intense Volume and Phytolaque Soie Hair Spray with Silk Proteins and like them very much. Just what you'd expect from a Parisian hair care line used by the professionals.

Derek Lam's FW2015 Show

Derek Lam NYFW “Get the Look” tips from Orlando Pita for PHYTO

INSPIRATION: 

Classic American New York woman. Sportswear with a New York edge. Super contemporary.

THE LOOK:

The look is a clean, graphic ponytail with a sharp center part.

GET THE LOOK:

·         Blow dry hair with PHYTO Phytovolume Actif or PHYTO Intense Volume Mousse, depending upon the hair type. 

·         Pull back hair into a pony tail at the nape of the neck.

·         Once the hair is pulled back, secure it with custom-made leather holders.

·         Finish the look by spraying with PHYTO Phytolaque Soie Hairspray.

Stylist Orlando Pita finishing this polished low pony look with hairspray.

Photos by Erin Baiano for PHYTO Hair Care

Caribbean Sun Skin Rejuvenation Light Therapy Review

Caribbean Sun LED Light Therapy for beautiful skin!

Caribbean Sun is perhaps best known for their S.A.D. Lights which mimic daylight to help alleviate Seasonal Affective Disorder or what's commonly called "the winter blues". More and more is being discovered about the benefits of such lights for the treatment of depression and the resetting of our internal clocks. Much has to do with the release of melatonin as it relates to our circadian rhythms and sleep cycles. These hormones tell you when it's time to wake up and when it's time to retire to bed.

Caribbean Sun has just come out with a NEW LED lamp, MODEL CCOL this time with two distinct wavelengths of light:
  
RED is for skin rejuvenation, fading fine lines, wrinkles and age spots while also boosting natural collagen and elastin production. Our skin is able to readily absorb red light unlike other light in the spectrum and thus causes rejuvenating and anti-aging effects such as cell renewal and metabolic function to assimilate nutritional elements.  

YELLOW is for inflammation, swelling and healing of sunburn's redness. The Yellow light also treats inflammatory conditions such as Rosacea and Eczema while providing general cosmetic facial rejuvenation by helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Use the lights separately or together for a multi-tiered treatment as the lights compliment each other.

Model CCOL has TWO wavelengths of light.

Model CCOL
This unit is very sturdily built with a rotating arm that can be angled in many positions. The optimal distance is for your face is about 10 inches from the light panels. The exposure time should be between 8-10 minutes per day. I like exposing my skin first thing in the morning for about 10 minutes (I use the timer on my iPod). Similar to the S.A.D. lights, they help me to wake up and improve my mood even on dark rainy days.

The Model CCOL comes with Eye Protection as shown in the photo above, but the lights themselves are not harmful to your eyes. When can you expect results? I noticed a change after the first treatment! My skin looked firmer and had a beautiful sheen to it. After a week? Definitely. The tiny fine lines around my eyes and mouth were plumped out and not nearly as visible. Just make sure that your skin in clean before your Light Therapy Treatment.

Products to use with the Caribbean Sun

Sublime Beauty  I make sure my face is clean with no sunblock or products of that sort before my Caribbean Sun Light Therapy Treatment. Since I do this first thing in the morning, there's no problem with that. I wash my face with a soap-free cleanser and apply Sublime Beauty's Collagen Serum which is Peptide rich. Then I use their Face Whisperer cream on my neck and decollete. As I mentioned before, the RED light stimulates collagen production so the use of the Collagen Serum makes perfect sense. I believe it has given me much faster and more noticeable results.

Sublime Beauty products work well with Skin Rejuvenation Light Therapy

The Caribbean Sun LED Light Therapy unit is from Wilshire Distributing Co.in Northbrook, IL and their lights have a 10 year warranty. Extremely well made, at 24 Watts, this LED Light is very similar to those used in the top spas I've visited in both New York and New Jersey. The large panels can be positioned over your face and do both your face and neck very effectively in under 10 minutes. I am VERY impressed with the results I am seeing in just a week and the lights are easy to operate. This unit is unique in that it uses both RED and YELLOW lights for a faster, more complete LED light therapy treatment. Genius! Visit Caribbean Sun online to see their full line of LED therapy lights and accessories at CaribSun.com 

Caribbean Sun LED Light Therapy type units are used in top spas like JnK, NY

 LED Lights c/o Caribbean Sun, Northbrook, IL 

NEW BB Creams & Concealors for Summer

Glow-Lite! Top NEW cosmetics for summer.

Well the seasons have definitely changed so if you haven't already, now's the time to think about lightening up on your makeup. Summer heat and humidity also often means: a slick, greasy face, makeup that does a disappearing act by 2pm and coverage that just doesn't stay put. Here are a few new skin enhancing cosmetic products that I've tried and use for appointments, photo shoots and much more:

Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer

Sarah McNamara NYC
Miracle Skin Transformer I really like this NEW multifunctional concealer. It is somewhere between Glamoflage and Kat Von D's concealers but much lighter while giving about the same amount of coverage. I had just gone through a pretty bad acne breakout when the Miracle Skin Transformer arrived. I used it to cover my bumps as I had a public appearance but by the end of the day they were nearly gone. So it did both Treat & Conceal! It contains marine collagen, white rose and chamomile.  I applied this concealer (Medium) with a goat hair Esum G47 Brush because it is very fluffy and prevents caking. Comes in 4 shades and blends like butter. Visit MiracleSkinTransformer.com online.

Gerard Cosmetics BB + Illumination

Gerard Cosmetics, CA
BB+Plus Illumination is a NEW creme for use either over or under foundation. The finish is absolutely gorgeous and if you like NARS Orgasm Illuminator, I think you LOVE BB+. NARS Orgasm is more on the peachy side where the BB+Plus is more rose-gold in tone. A little goes a long way and the product stays put without transferring all over the place.  I would use it like the NARS however as a highlighter as using it all over your face in the daytime might be too much. Night time is another matter! Visit GerardCosmetics.com online.

Embryolisse Artist Secret BB Cream

Embryolisse, Paris France
Artist Secret BB Cream You may know that I'm already a fan of all things Embryolisse, especially their moisturizers but a lot of people may not be aware that they also make a wonderful BB Cream. Artist Secret Complexion Illuminating Veil goes on very light and works for all skin types. It is very creamy without being oily as it contains hyaluronic acid, (great for moisture), vitamin E and mineral powders. I'm wearing it and their foundation in the photo above and it's amazing. Has a SPF of 20 which is always good. Comes in 2 shades. Visit EmbryolisseUSA.com online.


BB Cream & Concealer c/o Gerard Cosmetics & Sarah McNamara respectively.