StriVectin is a brand that’s all about results. To celebrate this brand legacy, they’ve launched a new product which has been on their wish list for a long time: a virtual tool that lets you instantly see results on your own face.
The skincare line has always promised high outcomes. The new StriVectin-SD Intensive Concentrate takes this even further, showing that test subjects demonstrated in just eight weeks, a 20 percent decrease in fine lines and wrinkles, 25 percent improvement in skin laxity, and nearly 100 percent improvement in texture, not to mention it increased skin barrier function by 40 percent for long-term skin health benefits. The secret weapon is a patented NIA-114[TM], niacin derived formula that works to strengthen the skin’s barrier by 40 percent to protect it from environmental wear, as well as increasing peptide levels 4x to stimulate higher-quality collagen.
But what does this all mean for your face? After discovering incredible before-and-after photos in clinical trials, they were so impressed with the results that they wanted to give users a way to see how the products could change their own skin. Enter the first virtual, anti-aging results tool for the web, Facebook and iPad, a new product built by ModiFace that uses advanced facial recognition and HTML 5 to show users real results.
I have to admit, I’m not one for fasting. I’ve tried it all: lemonade, green juices, Organic Avenue. They all just left me craving more of the foods I was trying to rid my diet of in the first place.
But when I came across Dr. Frank Lipman’s Cleanse Program, I knew the kit created by a medical professional, seemed a step above the rest. My primary goal was to cut my sugar cravings, rather than multiply them. And many health fanatics from Kevin Bacon to Donna Karen have given this detox the gold star of approval for helping to reset their own systems.
The cleanse consists of three protein shakes a day, plus a lunch and dinner consisting of greens and protein. No booze, no sugar, no gluten for two weeks straight. A big bottle of glutamine capsules is included, known to help curb sugar cravings, as well as daily vitamins. And in just two weeks, it promises to boost your body’s own ability to detox.
The program is designed to be taken on the go, with a blender bottle that easily mixes up shakes wherever you are. I decided to put it to the ultimate test and bring it with me to South by South West. The annual festival, held in Austin, Texax, is not only home to amazing interactive panels, show-stopping indie films and emerging rock acts, but also to liter-sized beer mugs and huge baskets of BBQ brisket. I knew if I could do it in Austin, I could do it anywhere.
The shakes ended up being great on the plane and kept me from indulging in processed snacks. The taste, a thick vanilla with a hint of lemon, wasn’t bad, and I never dreaded making it a part of my daily routine. Once I arrived in Texas, I had the added convenience of two morning shakes, and not having to worry about where to find breakfast.
The festival became a breeze, and for the first time while traveling, I felt that I was actually getting healthier rather than destroying all the progress I had made back home. I did make the mistake of putting a shake in a water bottle for later, and having a colleague ask me if I was drinking cake batter. I since put it in opaque bottles when I was chugging in the open.
Did I cheat? A couple of times. You try and turn down a famous Austin fish taco. But overall, I stuck to it, and even with the few cheats managed to lose five pounds and flatten my stomach after the two weeks were over.
And the best part? My sugar cravings were gone. I was able to walk by the chocolate aisle without even glancing at it. The cleanse is a great thing to do annually to reset your system. And it’s the perfect kit to take while traveling if you fear you’re going to kill your diet and pack on a few pounds.
When it comes to the ultimate in relaxing and unwinding for men, there’s little to be found in today’s fast-moving world. Even most airport executive lounges nowadays have little to offer besides a roomy chair and free wifi. But where can a man truly relax before a major business deal, or destress from a red eye flight? HOMMAGE, the brand that has redefined what luxury is for the modern man, has come up with just the spot, their first global atelier by Julien Farel.
The exclusive club, opened its doors April 4 in New York City. And don’t worry, this club is not for metrosexuals. It’s for the discerning jetsetters and dealmakers of the world, who deserve to have their own man time in the only way suitable: in a classic penthouse hideaway surrounded by the absolute best service and offerings.
HOMMAGE, the brand behind the world’s most expensive razor counts Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig and Cory Monteith among its many fans of products. Elevating the brand into a new realm of indulgence, one only needs to take one step nto the doors of the new HOMMAGE Atelier and discover a world set apart from the busy Manhattan streets. Chairs are modeled after first class seats on the most premium airlines. Guests are welcomed with a glass of single-malt scotch, complimentary shoe buffing and jacket steaming. Every detail of the space is carefully accounted for, including art work curated by the Lincoln Center Vera Art List Program.
Luxist spoke to HOMMAGE CEO and Founder Tom Wilscam to learn about his vision for the new atelier.
Every summer, I’m on a search for the perfect SPF day cream — something light enough for my sensitive skin, yet provides both UVA and UVB protection.
San Francisco makeup giant Benefit recently launched a skin care line with promising products that work fast for brighter, younger, radiant skin. The collection is packaged in fun vintage bottles, inspired by the waters of San Francisco’s gorgeous coastline. After sampling the line, I discovered a beauty must-have that I’m looking forward to wearing in the warm months ahead: Triple Performing Facial Emulsion.
The facial emulsion offers full SPF 15 PA++ sun protection, boosted by plant extracts, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to provide maximum antioxidant advantages. With a light citrus scent, that’s not too medicinal, it’s the perfect lotion to wear under makeup or alone on a bare summer face. It also provides supreme hydration through Benefit’s patented tri-radiance exclusive complex, designed to capture and maintain water to rebuild the skin’s natural reservoir.
One hit of the emulsion on my face, I instantly felt refreshed. It provided a silky gloss that was neither greasy nor oily. In weeks, you will see a decrease in spots and fine lines and an increase in skin firmness. It’s the one product to protect your skin against sun damage that no beach bag should be without.
I’ve long been a fan of luxury beauty line SENSAI, the Japanese masters of skin care and cosmetics. The key ingredient to all of their products, from their Double Cleansing Program to their Sun Care line, is silk. The rare Koishimaru Silk holds 300 times its own weight in water, giving the products throughout their line a way of softening the skin that has never been achieved by regular skin care products. They’ve launched a brand new line, highlighting their ever-advancing science and exclusive ingredients ready to take you through summer.
SkinMedica takes skin care seriously, in fact it’s all they do. Created by dermatologist and renowned “beauty industry visionary” Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick, the brand has recently added two new products to their already impressive lineup: an anti-aging serum and a redness relief lotion.
TNS Essential Serum
Description: An all-in-one anti-aging product that combines antioxidants, peptides, and plumping ingredients with SkinMedica’s patented growth factor serum, TNS Recovery Complex.
What we think: The formulas are clearly separated in a dual-chamber pump that simultaneously dispenses a bright red gel and a creamy white lotion. The product has no noticeable fragrance, is not oily or greasy, and skin feels and goes on silky smooth after application. And it might just be wishful thinking but after about two weeks of use wrinkles do appear less obvious, plus I think my face looks smoother and fresher even at the end of the day. The directions state to apply it morning and night but be warned it’s not a super-fast process — the instructions call for dispensing the product onto the back of the hand and blending before applying, which isn’t a big deal unless you’re trying to speed through an already rushed morning routine.
Description: “Save the red for your soles” by soothing redness at the source: the underlying inflammation. Key ingredients include CalmPlex, which works to inhibit vasodilation, and Vitamin B-3 (Niacinamide), which increases moisture retention and improves the skin’s functioning as a barrier.
What we think: The largely glycerin based lotion is heavier than expected, although not greasy. The first application tingled quite a bit, but according to the website that’s normal and should lessen with continued use. It leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized, and although I don’t have any particular issue with inflammation, my face does feel soothed as well.
Paul Mitchell is celebrating the hair care brand’s 30th birthday this year with a new line of luxury products featuring one of the brand’s signature ingredients, Hawaiian Awapuhi.
The Awapuhi Wild Ginger collection consists of eight products, all specially formulated from the most lipid-rich part of the awapuhi plant’s root for moisture and shine, as well as an exclusive Keratin blend, KeraTriplex, that repairs weak, damaged hair from the core out.
I’ve been using several products from the line exclusively for the last week or so, including the Moisturizing Lather Shampoo, Styling Treatment Oil, Finishing Spray and Keratin Intensive Treatment, and am noticing good results. My hair is fine and prone to damage and breakage so I was particularly interested in the KeraTriplex and I think feel it may be making my hair stronger.
My favorites are the Moisturizing Lather Shampoo (it smells great and works up into a thick and silky lather) and the Intensive Treatment (my hair feels really beautiful afterwards). All the products have a mild and slightly spicy ginger scent. But I wish the bottle designs were a little less masculine. All inall, a great line.
Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Collection ($16.95-$24.95)
Linea Pro Appliances knows how much girls love sparkly things and that bling isn’t reserved for going out. Even the most time-consuming Monday morning grooming routine will get an instant glamor boost from a Linea Pro Swarovski Crystal C2 iron (how could you not feel fabulous as you use it?).
Linea is the only company in the world allowed to use Swarovski on a flat iron and the 2500+ crystals are all hand applied with a special heat-proof glue. The flat iron itself features extra long titanium plates, a PTFC heater (originally created by NASA), tourmaline-infused ceramic, the world’s first digital cord temp control with auto shut-off, and Exclusive Nano-Silver that kills 99.9% of bacteria.
Each iron is individually numbered and made to order $850.
In response to the devastation in earthquake, tsunami and now nuclear-ravaged Japan, New York-based International Cosmetics & Perfumes — home to such brands as Creed and the Japanese inspired Hanae Mori — has announced an expanding charitable campaign.
Earlier this week, ICP CEO Emmanuel Saujet announced that a portion of proceeds from both the sale of items at Creed’s New York boutique and Hanae Mori web sales would go to benefit the American Red Cross‘ Japanese relief efforts. In addition, a part of future sales of the new Hanae Mori No. 3, available in June from retailers like Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Sephora, will also be donated for the same purpose.
The next day, ICP announced that 50 Hanae Mori reusable tote bags, originally intended as an in-store customer appreciation gift, would also be donated to the American Red Cross to assist Japanese displaced from their homes and belongings. And finally today, Creed declared that any winnings from the 2011 season of their official polo team would find their way to the American Red Cross as well.
Japan is a market that has long and enthusiastically embraced luxury goods, so let’s hope that more brands follow ICP’s lead and give back.
You don’t have to ski or snowboard to have a good time in Park City, Utah. Besides the Sundance Film Festival and all things Robert Redford, there are a slew of other fabulous ways to spend your days and nights in the resort town. Park City proves itself well in the luxury category.
We put together a list of ways to live well in the city known for having the “Greatest Snow On Earth” (and being the site of a few scenes in Dumb and Dumber), and all without having to ever put on those godforsaken foot and calf-suffocating ski boots.
Apres Ski
In a way, resort hopping the apres ski scene is Park City’s other great sporting event. The French term specifically refers to the drinking and revelry that ensues after a long day of skiing or snowboarding. The art of the cocktail is nothing to scoff at in snow country and up in these mountains the Mormon influence shunning drinking and nightlife is forgotten. Alta Resort’s Sitzmark Bar is a classic. Off-resort, check out High West Distillery and Saloon. They make their own whiskey and vodka and have a killer, innovative cocktail list with drinks like the High West Silver Julep using High West’s Silver Oat Whiskey and Rendezvous Rye. Park City’s Main Street features a collection of classic, mountain and Western motif bars and nightclubs like No Name Saloon, The Sidecar, and The Spur. There’s also Downstairs, owned by Danny Masterson of “That 70s Show” fame, a hip rocker lounge that celebrities typically flock to when they’re in town.
Shop
Ski bunny fashion is no joke in Park City. Locals and pros sport some of the slickest and brightest colored gear and pseudo-gear from brands like The North Face, Patagonia, and Lululemon, or, hanging in resort shopping areas in Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and The Canyons. It’s hard to resist not purchasing a brilliant blue fleece when witness to everyone else looking fashionably ski hip. There’s shopping too for the fashion-forward who prefer to wear something that’s also stylish away from the resorts. Along Main Street are adorable boutiques like Bunya Bunya and Mary Jane’s with clothing and accessories handmade by local artists and independent designers. Park City also has the largest collection of factory outlet stores in northern Utah.
Harry Slatkin, founder and creative force behind Slatkin & Co. and one of the country’s top fragrance experts, believe you shouldn’t rush into buying a fragrance when shopping.
“Take a step back before deciding what fragrance to wear,” he says.
Indeed, what a fragrance smells like on one person may smell completely different on someone else.
“So just because you like the way something smells when it is in the bottle doesn’t mean that is what it is going to smell like when it is on you,” says Slatkin. “Let your nose direct you.”
Just after last week’s announcement of Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has announced it will open in Spain this summer. The Waldorf Astoria Sevilla at La Boticaria will be the brand’s fifth property to open in Europe. This property was previously the Hacienda La Boticaria. The Waldorf Astoria Sevilla at La Boticaria will have 133 guest rooms and suites and one of Europe’s largest hotel spa facilities. The property is on 40 acres of land that includes an on-site equestrian center with 16 thoroughbred Spanish horses and a driving range for golf enthusiasts close to the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.
Can a tough little plant that blooms in harsh and arid conditions impart its wondrous properties to your skin? Kiehl’s has announced a new skin cream that uses Rosa Artica (Haberlea rhodopensis) also called the “resurrection flower” to moisturize aging skin. The new Rosa Artica anti-aging cream was created to “wake up” skin cells triggering a chain reaction that will lead to visibly healthier, regenerated and more youthful skin. Results include the reduction of the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and improvement of overall skin firmness.
Haberlea rhodopensis is indigenous to the rugged Rhodopes Mountain Range in Bulgaria and it can dry out completely and survive periods of dryness for up to 31 months. With only a few drops of moisture, the plant resumes normal growth within hours and is restored in one to two days. This amazing feat is due to its ability to protect water content within the cell, allowing the capacity to restart the cellular energy process. Our friends at Racked recently tried the product and fell in love.
The cream also contains Vitamin E, cocoa butter, shea butter and essential fatty acids and sells for $60 for 1.7 fl. Oz. and is available March 2011 in select stores.
Leave it to Lady Gaga to make nude lipstick goth. The pop star stars in a uniquely eerie video for her Viva Glam line with MAC Cosmetics. Her image flickers in an out, changing color in a mirror surrounded by crystal-studded skulls and a martini glass with a goldfish swimming inside. Gaga’s nuder-than-nude MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick and Lipglass raise money to benefit the Viva Glam program and the MAC AIDS Fund. The collection can be purchased via the official website. Our sibling blog Stylelist recently tested out the new shades and said that the “creamy lipstick goes on smooth and when topped with the shimmering lip gloss, it creates a doll-like finish that would make Nicki Minaj blink 10 times as fast.”
As we’ve mentioned before, Academy-Award nominee for Best Actress, Natalie Portman has a side gig. The lovely star is also the face of the Miss Dior Cherie campaign. The print ads were photographed by Tim Walker and Sofia Coppola, who shot a previous commercial for Miss Dior Cherie handled the filming, the result of which is shown above. The Miss Dior Cherie fragrance is described as a playful, modern fragrance and has notes of green tangerine, violette, and pink jasmine with strawberry leaves and caramelized popcorn. The advertisement echoes the soft, flirty tones of the scent, showing Portman and a handsome companion kissing and Portman alone, lost in dreamy reverie while holding the perfume bottle and taking a bath with sunglasses on while “Je T’aime Moi Non Plus” by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin plays in the background.
Indiewire says that the next famous film director to hit the fragrance ad spotlight is “Black Swan” director Darren Aronofsky who directed Vincent Cassel in a promotion for Yves Saint Laurent’s Perfume “La Nuit de L’Homme.”
Kim Kardashian has a fragrance line and now her younger sister Khloe does too. Khloe Kardashian and her husband, Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom are debuting a new unisex fragrance called Unbreakable which will be sold exclusively at Perfumania stores starting February 12. On her blog Kardashian says that she and Lamar are doing a meet and greet at the Florida Mall Perfumania in Orlando on the day of its release at 7pm.
The pair posed for black and white still images for the campaign and shot a sexy advertisement which shows Kardashian wrapping herself around her shirtless husband. The couple also has their own reality show in the works.
The scent notes say that it is a blend of Italian bergamot, sparkling clementine, Asian saffron, green apple, African geranium, sheer jasmine, lily of the valley, juicy red fruits, texas cedarwood, tonka bean, vanilla bean and dark chocolate. The 3.4 ounce Eau De Toilette spray sells for $42.99.
Having a romantic Valentine’s Day doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have a special someone in your life. Why not show yourself some love … at the spa on this most romantic of holidays? We’ve tracked down spa treatments from coast to coast (and beyond) to come up with our favorite Valentine’s Day spa packages and treatments for romance and romance-lovers alike.
“Sweetheart” Scrub & Massage at Spa Desert Springs
What better way to say “I love you” or “UR G8″ than with the quintessential Valentine’s Day candy, Necco Candy Hearts? Palm Desert’s JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa is offering a Sweetheart Sugar Scrub and Sweetheart Valentine Massage, both scented with the smell of candy hearts, featuring notes of orange, vanilla and blueberry. Afterwards, unwind in the 38,000 square foot spa, the largest in Southern California. Both treatments are 60 minutes and $135.
Vanilla and Caramel Delight at The Spa at Norwich Inn
Whoever said Valentine’s Day had to be just about chocolate and Champagne obviously hasn’t tried this deluxe treatment. The famed Connecticut spa (which also has an outpost at Foxwoods resort and casino) is offering a Caramel Delight Facial for their holiday visitors. Vanilla helps lessen skin’s hypersensitivity and reactions to environmental elements, while caramel leaves skin smooth and improves its tone. As a take-home gift, you’ll enjoy the spa’s Caramel serum to help maintain the effects of the treatment. Prefer something a bit “spicier”? They’re also offering a selection of Chocolate and Chocolate-Gingerbread treatments. The facial is 50 minutes and $125.
Strawberries, Champagne & Chocolate at The Sports Club/LA
Finally, a spa treatment that’s both luxurious and affordable. This month’s seasonal specials at Sports Club/LA (locations across the country) are a Chocolate Indulgence Body Wrap, which begins with a Chocolate Crème Mineral Mask with soothing scalp massage and foot reflexology before application of a cocoa-scented lotion to leave skin smooth and supple. Need some face time? How about a Strawberry Champagne Facial, which uses the power of vinotherapy and the antioxidants to leave skin smooth, supple and refreshed? Both treatments are 50 minutes and just $99. Want to spa with a friend? Inquire about combining these into couples packages that include Champagne and strawberries.
Wanderlust is one of the country’s fastest growing festivals and its purpose is not only to bring yogis together with each other but also to provide premier nature and music experiences. This year the festival is expanding from just one event to several nationwide and will kick off at The Standard Spa at Miami Beach in Florida.
The festival consists of 4 days and 3 nights of yoga workshops taught by the nation’s top instructors, access to The Standard’s full range of therapeutic spa treatments, evenings full of musical inspiration from Bonobo and others, and of course lots of fresh air and sunshine. The season’s opening festivities are scheduled for March 17th-20th and ticket packages start at $750 per person for the weekend.
Aman Resorts are known by A-listers around the globe as some of the world’s most prestigious getaways. Amanpulo, the chain’s private island retreat set in the turquoise waters of the Philippines’ Sulu Sea, is already an ideal beach getaway.
But even great things can get better … in this case with the addition of its Aman Spa.This new facility includes six spa treatment rooms in three pavilions, a yoga and meditation pavilion, a Pilates studio, a gymnasium and a finishing salon for hair, hand and foot treatments. Two steam rooms with cold plunge pools will open in March.
Pomegranate is everywhere these days, showing up in juices, vodkas and teas. The latest pomegranate isn’t something you drink, it’s something you apply. Pomega5 offers a whole line of treatments that use the power of pomegranate seed oil to hydrate, nourish and heal the skin. The new Grenade Anti Rides Nourishing Cream is an anti-aging cream for mature skin that promises a brighter, more reļ¬ned and youthful appearance (don’t they all?).
The cream uses Omega5, which has been extracted from organic cold-pressed pomegranate seed oil. It is an antioxidant that works to promote cell renewal, stimulates collagen production and minimizes free radical damage. Also knows as punicic acid, it is an essential fatty acid which has recently been analyzed for its ability to help the body fight against cancers, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
StriVectin-SD Launches Virtual Anti-Aging Tool originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
By: Ariston Anderson
In response to the devastation in 
Having a romantic Valentine’s Day doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have a special someone in your life. Why not show yourself some love … at the spa on this most romantic of holidays? We’ve tracked down spa treatments from coast to coast (and beyond) to come up with our favorite Valentine’s Day spa packages and treatments for romance and romance-lovers alike.
Aman Resorts
