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Dermarie Skincare *Giveaway*

I was recently introduced to this new brand called Dermarie Advanced Skin Science, and I'm in love. I have been using their AHA/Glycolic Acid Cleanser and their Vitamin C Serum, and my skin has seen a huge difference in clarity, texture and luminosity. I'm always weak for anything that promises me a good glow, but the use of these two together has really exceeded my expectations. Luckily for my readers I was given the chance to offer a giveaway for there AHA/Glycolic Acid 10% Foaming Face Cleanser which starts today, obviously on Cyber Monday!!! For those of you who can't wait, Dermarie is offering my readers 30% off all products on their website with the code FAIRLY30.

The giveaway will end next Monday, December 8th. I will contact the winner personally to send them their gift! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have any technical difficulties using the widget above, simply ENTER HERE!!!

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Makeup is NOT Skin Deep

I can bet my career on the fact that your makeup only looks as good as your skin.

5 ways makeup can improve your skin (and a million reasons why its important to wash it off, at night!!): Daily makeup is a great tool to enhance your image, by polishing and refining your skin, temporarily. Makeup can serve several functions:

1.) highlight, contour and define features 2.) protects against the environment 3.) anti-aging ingredients (antioxidants, 4.) even out your skin tone (color correction) 5.) balance your skin type (oil production)

The keyword is: TEMPORARY. When applied to your largest organ, makeup can temporarily improve the appearance of the skin. That being said, makeup can not do TOO much for the texture of the skin. Makeup ingredients can be anything from ground up minerals to synthetic silicones. These pigments or filler ingredients can certainly clog your pores and and cause premature aging!! Watch this video to learn more.

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6 Things To Know Before Your Next Medi-Spa Appointment

6 Ways To Protect Yourself From Infection, At Your Next Medi-Spa Appointment  You can call ahead or ask management while you're there to make sure the medical spa you're going to, is practicing proper methods of sanitation. The risk of passing harmful bacteria to you is reduced by 99% when the following protocols are in place: 1) Did your technician obtain a state board license to practice their craft? State licensed technicians must pass a rigorous state board test before they're allowed to work on you. Non-licensed practitioners are not taught proper methods of sanitation nor do they have proper understanding of bacteria or how to control the spread in their work areas.  2) Require that your technician wear gloves before they touch your skin.  i.e Make sure they change their gloves in between touching unsanitized surfaces, dirty implements and you.  3) Inquire if your technician sanitizes their procedure room in between clients. Are the surfaces, products, implements and equipment which are being used during treatments being wiped down with disinfectant solutions before being used again? Look around the room, yourself. Do you see dust, finger prints on surfaces or products? If the room, products and equipment that are being used during previous treatments, contain dust (dust is a catalyst for bacteria) or showcase visible finger prints, these are indications that the room is not properly sanitized. Touching your skin after directly touching any of these is a huge red flag that your technician will transmit harmful bacteria to you during your treatment. Are disposable linens being used and properly disposed of? Are non-disposable linens properly disinfected, thoroughly in between clients? Does the waste bin, have a lid and a foot pedal? 4) Pay attention that your technician is using disposable applicators like wooden, plastic or metal to dip into products and not their fingers; If possible, products with pumps and sprays are ideal (but not always available). 5) Are sanitizing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing solutions visible in the room? Are autoclaves, UV sanitizers or other devices being used to ensure all types of bacteria are controlled in their work environment? One of the first things you should do upon walking into your treatment room, is to take a chance and  thoroughly look around and check these items off in your head 6) Is there enough time allotted on the schedule for your technician to sanitize their room between their last client and you? If not, does the medi-spa have a person on staff to do so, for them? This is a question you should most definitely ask when arriving for your appointment. As a state licensed aesthetician and state board aesthetics examiner, I take a lot of pride in practicing a strong allegiance to state mandated methods of sanitation to ensure that I am not contaminating products or rendering anything more than healthier skin to my clients.  Medical spas, hair and nail salons can certainly spread infections and disease, if the technicians are NOT practicing proper methods of sanitation.  Your clinician should be protecting you, their work environment, and themselves from contamination, at all times.  Pathogenic bacteria reproduces asexually, as it only needs the right living conditions in the right place. Click on the following link to see how fast bacteria can spread on to surfaces, in products, or on your skin: http://www.thermapure.com/environmental-services/bacteria/

Please email me for for any further questions. 

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It's A Skin Revolution!

I was lucky enough to be invited for a private event showcasing a new bespoke skincare line based out of Asia, called Skin Inc. We all know how much I love all things skincare from Asia; they're just so much more advanced, more so with this line than ever before with any other, it's completely customized for your skin. You take a skincare test AKA a Skin Identity addressing your concerns and ailments, et voila, it tells you the 3 serums you need to mix together to make YOUR perfect serum. I was given the trio of Ceramide, Licorice, & Hyaluronic Acid, which helps with moisture, brightening and plumping, all three things I normally have to tackle with individual products. My other favorite product I tried from the line is the Pure Revival Peel, it's like nothing I've ever used which is hard to say because I'm a product junky and have tried almost everything under the sun. The Peel comes out like a gel until it turns to a milky color, then you start to massage into your skin and it becomes a grainy like texture that removes all impurities in the skin and once washed off you're left with bright super-soft skin. What's not to love??? 

Skin Inc will be launching in NYC this week at select Sephora locations throughout the city, in the mean time you can go to their site and take your Skin Identity test!!! 

                                       www.iloveskininc.us                            

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Coming Soon...

                                                                    September 1st!!     

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Happy Valentine's Day, this short film made me melt! 

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Seriously….

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Happy Holidays!!

Hope you all are having a great holiday thus far!!! Wishing New York would become a winter wonderland like these pics!!! 

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A Love Story

French Vogue has quite possibly made the most beautiful spread I've seen in ages, featuring my favorite fashion icon and her gorgeous husband. Come on people I'm talking about these stunners, Victoria & David Beckham! These photos are truly beautiful, not only because of the people in them but because of the emotion that is evoked through them. 

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Cyber Monday

The woes of Cyber Monday…. Though I did buy some stuff! 

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My Night at Sotheby's

Last night I went to a preview at Sotheby's for their auctions this week. I truly love art and originally started out in school majoring in Art History so it was great to see the only private collection of certain artists that are left in the world. Sometimes life sucks, but sometimes it's amazing, and last night it was a real treat! 

 Now this beauty is my favorite because someone close to my heart painted it.

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The Gelb Center

Recently I had the opportunity to check out The Gelb Center, which is a totally modern state of the art center perched above Madison Avenue on the penthouse level. Dr. Michael Gelb is a TMJ, airway and sleep apnea pioneer, always looking to push the envelope to find a solution before other interventions are sought out. I was lucky enough to be able to go and get the red carpet treatment to see if my mild overbite was blocking my airway at all and to see what we could do about it. Turns out I'm perfect! Ha, no not really totally joking, but my airway is very open, my bite for the most part is great and none of his appliances were needed to fix it, though after showing me how different my side profile would be if I was to use a bite plate appliance, the results were very outstanding considering they are nonsurgical. I had a CT scan done of my entire cranium which came back with some gorgeous pics I might use as my new head shot, kidding guys! Without the bite plate my chin is 4 mm back, with the appliance or the tongue exercise Dr. Gelb taught me how to do, I could bring my chin completely forward and for someone who works in aesthetics, I was blown away. I highly recommend if you are suffering from TMJ, any bite difficulties, migraines/headaches, or sleep apnea to RUN not walk to The Gelb Center to see what miracles Dr. Gelb can work for you! 

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Givenchy Never Fails

I'm pretty much dying over Givenchy's Christmas 2013 makeup collection, I got an early looksy and I can't get over it!! The stand out piece is the Ondulations D'Or Limited Edition Bronze Précieux ($60), a stunning black and gold eye shadow palette where you can use each shade individually or mix together to create a bronze shade. LOVE! Then there's the packaging, which on it's own is a work of art, black and gold stars with classic Givenchy logo in the center. 

           This collection is all about bronze for the eyes, so the next in line is the Phenomen'Eyes Bronze Précieux ($30), if that's not enough bronze for you, Givenchy has you even more covered with a golden topcoat for for the lashes called Lash Sparkles Limited Edition or Précieux ($30) which according to Nicolas Degennes, Givenchy Beauty's Artistic Director, this is a must have for the holiday season!

             The remainder of the collection includes two Le Vernis ($20) nail polishes in Rouge Précieux & Bronze Précieux, both lovely but I obviously prefer the red. My favorite number I couldn't wait to add to my makeup bag is the Le Rouge ($36) Violene Précieux, a gorgeous red shade with amazing limited edition packaging, who could say no?

                                                                                                  Written by Chrystal Kfir

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What's Your Expiration Date?

How many of you are guilty of still having some makeup laying around thats old or even a beauty product? I know I am, so I suspect that many of you are as well, I don't think many of us think about the expiration date of makeup as we do with milk or eggs. I'm about to break down the shelf life of makeup, which I think every beauty lover should know. Makeup aside, if you're unsure of something it probably has its own POA (period after use) on the back or bottom of bottle, you know that little jar and number, yes that actually means something? Once opened, that's the number of months the brand recommends you use the product for.  The biggest offender I feel goes bad faster than anything else and can cause the most harm, yet people keep it around longer is mascara. My trick (if you want to call it that) I always buy travel sizes of it or ask the people behind the makeup counter for samples, which is also very helpful if you do travel a lot, so then you are done using it within like 4-6 weeks and can chuck it without the gilt you feel when throwing away a huge tube of it.

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Once Upon A Fall Night Out

I'm a firm believer that life isn't complete without a little leopard or gold, which goes for 95% of my ensembles. I love me some leopard print, call me Peg Bundy but a pair of leopard pumps really completes a look if you ask me. Even if you didn't ask, you're welcome for the free advice. That being said, I also don't do silver, silver should be illegal and frankly it is in my closet but it/s not worn. Gold all the way but I have to make compromises when buying jackets/coats for the most part due to the silver zippers, then I'll let it slide.

                                         Coat: 

Rebecca Taylor

 | Jacket: 

Zara

 | Top: 

Clover Canyon

              Top: 

T by Alexander Wang

 |Bag: 

Alexander Wang

 | Shoes: 

Christian Louboutin

                                         Pants: 

Paige Denim

 | Shoes: 

Gianvito Rossi

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Fall Fabulous - Day

I am so excited its mid August because that just means it's closer to fall, I'm a true freak that hates summer, I yearn for a fall breeze and the day the air starts to turn crisp. I've written this all before but fall is my season, for fashion, hair and makeup, it really does wonders for ones mood as well. I will happily bid adieu to the humidity, heat and summer frocks and trade them in at drop of a dime for boots, capes, cashmere and more. My #1 staple year round is a great tee, one that is perfectly soft, has a bit slouch but cut in the right places. I know everyone is always on the search for the perfect tee, I used to have one from the Gap but then they stuck their heads up their asses and started making totally shit tees, its like really gap isn't that what your known for, so I had to regroup now that all of my beloved Gap tees are collecting holes. Trust me I love a good James Perse t-shirt but I hate paying $65 for it and not one is cut the same, so unless I try it on in store I'm screwed. Here's where my amazing friend Jen's (part of the fab line  Hunter Dixon) new fashion adventure La Señorita Jolie comes into play. Her new company has great t-shirt, tanks, and knits that you can dress up or down, Like me Jen is a t-shirt & jeans kind of gal so clearly she knew what she was doing here. Jen was kind enough to offer my readers free shipping with any order using the code FOFS. 

This is basically my Fall Day look in a nutshell, chic and simple with details that add to the basic jeans and t-shirt. First I'm going to start off by saying this Givenchy Antigona duffle is killing it so hard, as much as I love my Nightingale, this bag is what I'm hoping to be MY new 'it' bag, I'm pretty over seeing everyone & their mom's with the Celine Luggage or Trapeze. A little birdie aka my SA at Barneys told me that this bag is going on sale come October. Another thing killing it in this look, again from Givenchy are these rain boots, I mean come on could they be anymore chic, no I don't think so. I love the loose asymmetrical drapy top worn with leggings and boots on a day where you just want to be comfortable and chic and not worry about jeans. Everyone loves a good pair of J Brands, well at least I do, they are my holy grail of jeans and I don't stray and haven't for many many years. The faux leather textured jacket with the collar and front detail is so perfect for a lunch date paired with jeans, a tee and those fab leopard silk slippers. Stay tuned for my Fall Night look! 

       Jacket: ZARA | Tee: La Senorita Jolie | Drape Top: Lafayette 148 

       Bag: Givenchy | Jeans: J BRAND | Flats: ZARA | Boots: Givenchy

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Indeed It's Happening!

Ladies get ready it's really happening, Indeed Labs the makers of Hydraluron, Snoxin and Nanoblur will be available in the USA starting in September through Walgreens! Wait, what you've never heard of any of these products? Let me fill you in then on my favorite, Hydraluron, which has quickly become a UK holy grail cult item even though it only recently launched a year ago. Hydraluron is a serum that is one of the purest hyaluronic acid you’ll find, with a bio-engineered strain of red marine algae causing a controlled increase in blood circulation which leads to faster skin turnover, it is also the world's first hyaluronic acid that is 100% free of animal derived raw materials. Hyaluronic acid is capable of absorbing up to 1000x its weight in water, basically acting like a magnet for whatever you put on top of it, so your moisturizer is not going anywhere anytime soon and you can use less. All of this means lots of moisture, softer skin, healthy glow and plumper skin, this all translates to younger, healthier looking skin, sign me up ASAP. 

                                                                                                             Written by Chrystal Kfir