Fashiontribes Life & Style

Skin Care Basics--what you don't know can hurt your skin! FashionTribes Life & Style Skin and Spa report!

How many times have we heard that we must learn to crawl before we can learn to walk? Well, this is true in every arena of life and definitely when it comes to caring for the skin--so before you can graduate to deciphering the saturated shelves lined with beauty products you have to first learn how to properly wash, dry, exfoliate and moisturize your skin. Believe me when I tell you that a large majority of my clients don’t even know how to properly wash their face, so no matter how much you cleanse, moisturize and apply your SPF, if you are doing it wrong your skin will show for it.

Washing Your Face - When it comes to cleansing almost everyone I meet is doing it wrong. Healthy glowing skin starts with proper cleansing. To begin, one must wash the face every evening. No ifs, ands or buts about it. The skin, after a day of living, is dirty with environmental toxins, makeup and product, dust, dirt and pollution. Sleeping with that night after night will congest the skin thus preventing healthy excretion of toxins and secretion of protective oils, leaving skin lackluster and sallow. Wash the face for a full minute, not five seconds, not thirty, but a full minute, making sure to spend extra time around the chin, nose and ear area. Also this is the time to get in a 30 second or more massage to wake up those muscles and get healthy circulation going, which in my expert opinion is the only thing aside from love that will make your skin truly glow. After the minute, follow with a thorough warm water rinse, at least 10 splashes to remove all cleanser and hydrate the surface of your skin. If your skin is tight and dry after washing your face then your cleanser is too harsh and this is unhealthy. Skin should always feel soft and comfortable after cleansing. Finally if you wear foundation or powder, you must wash twice to remove all make-up. First do a quick surface cleanse, then follow with a more thorough concentrated cleanse.

Drying Your Face – Before telling you what to do I am going to start by telling you what not to do. Do not rub your face completely dry and do not use a hand towel or bath towel in the bathroom that is being used on the body or that others are using for their hands. Getting those two things right will make a huge difference. Now What To Do: Always pat skin dry around the forehead and chin with a clean towel leaving most of that moisture on your skin. I recommend going to Target and buying a stack of 20 washcloths for $10 and using one of those every 2-3 days to dry your face. After the third  day, put it in the laundry and use a new one. If you have acne or congested skin, this is a practice you need to pay special attention to.

Moisturizing Your Skin – Whether whole body or face it is essential that you always apply moisturizer to damp skin. The water will help draw your moisturizer in and your cream will spread more deliciously on the surface leaving you feeling silky soft. When it comes to skin, water and oil do mix. In fact they are best friends.

Exfoliating – The key is to never scrub and scour your skin. Always exfoliate with a light gentle hand and be thorough but quick, the goal is only to remove surface dead cells and unnecessary oils. Finally, rinse, pat dry and moisturize. Also do not exfoliate with a scrub every day, just once or twice a week and if you have acne – no scrubs, instead use hot towel compresses on just cleansed skin.

By following the basics you will immediately notice an improvement in your skin. Stay tuned for my next article where the focus will be on basic product knowledge and how making the right choices will help you attain the skin you desire. So get ready, gorgeous skin awaits you!

- Elisha Reverby

Elisha L. Reverby is a New York City native and is a CA And NY state licensed esthetician. She has been in the beauty industry for fifteen years, primarily in product development, which led her to create Elique Organic Skin Food, her own line of fresh food and herb based skin care. As well, Elisha divides her time educating the public on the dangers of mass produced skin and body care and operating Get Waxed, her new eco-friendly waxing studio in Venice, CA right off of Abbot Kinney Boulevard. To contact Elisha you can email her at [email protected] or call her at 310.396.2929.

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Your Skin is starving--FEED IT!!! FashionTribes Life & Style checks out Elique's Organic Skin Food to Go--skincare that's good enough to eat!

It turns out that the latest and greatest in skincare isn't a peptide or acid, a laser or injectible--it's honey and safflower oil and black molasses and almond meal.  If this sounds more like a meal than a mask, you've entered the world of Elisha Reverby, founder of Elique and creator of a luscious line of skincare that is organic, handmade, customized and delivered within 48 hours of its preparation.

Reverby pours her 15 years of experience and research in skincare and ingredients--along with her heart and soul--into this enterprise.  Part esthetician, part evangelist, Elisha is passionate about what goes into her products--because what goes into them ends up on her clients skin! 

“Sixty percent of what goes onto our skin is absorbed into our bodies. People today are really conscious of eating organic and natural foods, but may not be aware of how many chemicals and toxins they are ingesting through the skin,” Reverby says. “In formulating Elique Organic Skin Food to Go, I only use organic, natural ingredients that are so pure you could eat them.”

I was fortunate enough to sample some of Elisha's handiwork--

Cake, a nourishing and skin softening cleanser made with almond meal, farmer's market honey and apple cider vinegar,

Smooth made certified organic rosehip, comfrey and calendula oils to create a perfect facial moisturizer and finally

Whipped, a a sumptuous cream perfect for dry skin and made with safflower oil infused in lavender, lavender hydrosol and beeswax.

My skin has been very dry, sensitive, irritated, red, rashy, itchy--well, you get the picture.  But a mere three days since using these three simple products, it's calmer, no longer flaking, much healthier looking and feeling.  I am amazed and I am SOLD!  And you will be, too.  Reasonably priced with the highest quality ingredients and packaged in recyclable and non-toxic glass jars, this simple and elegant line is now available to everyone via Elisha's website,  Elique Skin and Spa.

In Elique Organic Skin Food to Go, Reverby has created an amazing line of products that are affordable, achieve results and are easily available via the internet.  If you are concerned about your health and what you put into your body, you should also be aware of what you are putting ON your body.  And thanks to Elisha Reverby and Elique, you can be sure what you are putting ON your body is safe, non-toxic and not only good for you and your skin, but good for the planet as well.

- Stella Louise

 

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East meets West--Kinara hosts an evening with anti-aging experts!!! FashionTribes Lifestylist reports...

On Thursday, May 3rd, Kinara Skin Care Clinic and Spa in West Hollywood hosted an evening to discuss anti-aging options.  The event featured:

Olga Lorencin-Northrup - co-founder/owner of Kinara Skin Care Clinic and Spa and renowned skin care expert and esthetician.

Dr. Daoshing Ni (aka "Dr. Dao") - established authority in Chinese medicine including acupuncture and herbology.

Dr. Andrew Cohen - Board certified plastic surgeon specializing in ocuplastic surgery.

The panel was moderated by Clio Manuelian, fashion and beauty press consultant and veteran of Elle magazine and E! Entertainment.

The discussion highlighted the different options available for aging gracefully--from the more gentle maintenance that can be provided by regular visits to an esthetician utilizing a variety of facials, alpha hydroxy acids, peptides and microdermabrasion.  Lorencin-Northrup saw her role not only in helping her clients achieve good skin health with a combination of products and services, but the ability to diagnose and recommend specific treatment for her client's anti-aging concerns.

In the middle of the spectrum, Dr. Dao works with a combination of acupuncture, herbs and nutritional supplements to optimize hormone levels--key to staying young and aging gracefully are balanced hormones.  Lorencin-Northrup credits Dr. Dao with enabling her to conceive a child at age 41.

Going beyond skincare maintenance and optimized hormones and one enters the realm of Dr. Andrew Cohen.  From botox and fillers like Restaylene to more aggressive procedures like eyelifts and facelifts, Dr. Cohen's mantra is that he will not take on a patient unless he can make them happy.

And perhaps happiness--feeling good about oneself, having self-confidence--is the most important part of anti-aging or aging gracefully.  Dr. Dao lists ways to a healthy life including:  getting a good night's sleep, being positive and active, eat healthy, take care of your body, drink herbal tea daily, meditate and most importantly--SMILE!!!

For more information about Kinara, check out Kinara Skincare Clinic and Spa.
Information about Dr. Dao's practice can be found at Tao of Wellness and for information about Dr. Andrew Cohen check out his website.

We may not have an option about whether or not we age, but thankfully we have plenty of options to preserve a youthful looking appearance for as long as possible!

Stella Louise

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Dermology Med Spa Brings You Cutting Edge Med-Spa Treatments. Fashiontribes Life & Style Blog

 

DERMOLOGY MED SPA newly located on ultra-chic Sunset
Boulevard in the heart of West Hollywood, is a
fabulous new addition of spa conscience  treatments
and products available in this new location.  Having
recently moved here from Pasadena, the clientele are
finding this wonderful oasis a one-stop-shop for all
of your favorites, including:

7 different types of facials including:
NEW VIBRADERM for progressive resurfacing and skin
polishing (I had this done in a one hour multi-layered
skin resurfacing facial - the best!);
Corrective acne facial;
European facial and tension tamer;
Skinceuticals facial;
Extreme skin rejuvenation combined with
Vibradermabrasion and light peel plus other variations.

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Let's not forget the men!
MEN'S Facial and Tension Tamer;
Skin Tightening and Body Contouring:
"Titan" treatments that  provide skin tightening for jowls, neck, forehead, abdomen, underarms or thighs;
and "Velasmooth Body Contouring and Cellulite Reduction".

Injectables available include Botox, Restylane, and Juvederm.

LASER Treatments include
Laser-Genesis Skin Rejuv;
CoolGlide (IPL);
Levulan Photodynamic Therapy and
CoolGlide Laser Vein Therapy.

Chemical Peels offered include  Amino Acid Chemical Peels from 30% to 60% strength.

LASER Hair Removal is provided with CoolGlide Laser Hair Removal;

Wow! LOTS of treatment options.   Go! Go! Go Girls and Guys! Great one-hour lunch-time facials and procedures, terrific gift idea with 10% off on packages!
Just in time for Mother's Day, Beauty Week in May will coincide with terrific specials for Mom!

The ladies will take great care of you in a relaxing
atmosphere with soothing music and a professional,
caring staff. (Veronica's facials are the wonderful)!
My experience was the best I have had in a long time
among many spa treatments - I highly recommend this
spa for your one-stop-shop treatments and products.

Note that there is an MD medical director and the staff is fully trained for all types of treatments. Their before and after page is phenomenal!

Find DERMOLOGY MED SPA at 8590 Sunset Blvd., West
Hollywood, www.dermologymedspa.com, 310-657-1050.

Visit Dermalogica on Montana for a treatment that benefits Pink-Link Fashiontribes Lifestylist Blog

Fans of Dermalogica know it’s the go-to place for no-nonsense, serious skincare.

This Friday, April 20th, Dermalogica on Montana, the corporate flagship skin care center in Santa Monica, is teaming up with Pink-Link, a breast cancer support organization.

Pink-Link is an online community for women fighting breast cancer, giving them support, resources and networking opportunities. They do great stuff like help women connect with other patients, survivors and medical professionals. It’s even set up to help family members.

OK, where do you fit in?

Your skin is broken out, bothersome and/or blah….

Get a MicroZone Treatment ($25), which is a 20-minute treatment aimed at your specific skincare needs, and all of that will go to Pink-Link. Or, if you spend $100 in products or treatments, you’ll get a free MicroZone Treatment.

As they put it, “Skin health results and an insanely great experience every time you visit.”

It’s a win-win situation.

Dermalogica on Montana, 1022 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Walk-ins are accepted, but for an appointment, call: 310.260.8683.

To find out more about Pink-Link, visit their web site.

Julie Haire

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Rescue Me - Treat Yourself to a Manicure or Pedicure & Support Mariska Hargitay's Charity, JOYFUL HEART! Fashiontribes Lifestylist Julier Haire Tells you MORE!

 

Supporting a cause and supporting your feet … what could be better?

For the month of April, Rescue Hand and Foot Spa in West Hollywood will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Joyful Heart Foundation, Mariska Hargitay’s non-profit dedicated to helping and healing sexual assault survivors.

 

Hargitay, who you know as tough-talking Det. Olivia Benson on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, founded Joyful Heart in 2002 after hearing so many personal stories as a result of her work. The organization serves as source of support and inspiration for survivors of sexual assualt, also sponsoring regular retreats to Hawaii to swim with the dolphins – something Mariska did and found incredibly transformative.

 

The mission and philosophy of Joyful Heart resonated with Rescue’s co-owner Yvette Morales, so she wanted to help get the message out. And April is a perfect time to do it since it’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Philosophy is also getting in on the action, donating all of the proceeds of their Joyful Heart 3-in-1 shower gel/shampoo/bubble bath to the foundation. You can find that at the spa, too.

Mariska herself designed two treatments at Rescue, a manicure called “Oh La La” and a pedicure called “Tropical Escape.” I was lucky enough to get the pedicure, done by the expert hands of Debbie, and it indeed lived up to its name.

Rescue is a warm, intimate spa with glass chandeliers, plum overtones and an inviting vibe, so it’s easy to get your relax on. The pedicure starts off with a Dead Sea Salt soak in a copper basin, and the lime sugar scrub they use is great. There is a generous amount of time spent on massage, but the paraffin treatment is the real treat – like stepping into a cozy, warm (mushy!) sock. It’s super-hydrating, especially when paired with the coconutty Kukui lotion they use. To top if all off, the Zoya nail polish color is a pale, pearly white (though you can choose another color if you prefer).

All in all, one hour well spent.

To book a treatment and support the Joyful Heart Foundation, contact: Rescue Hand & Foot Spa, 8001 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 822-1887.

To find out more about the Joyful Heart Foundation, visit their web site.

- Julie Haire

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Waiting to Exhale...FashionTribes Lifestylist explores yoga at the mindbodyspa in Santa Monica!

Combining high-quality mind body fitness classes and therapeutic spa services, Exhale mindbodyspa is an oasis of tranquility in a bumper-to-bumper rush hour world.  With locations in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, two in Los Angeles (Venice and Santa Monica) and three in New York, urbanites across the U.S. now have a place for respite, relaxation and restoration.

I was fortunate enough to experience a yoga class at the Santa Monica location.  The spacious but warmly inviting studio faces the ocean, but the real ambiance came from affable instructor David Romanelli who was accompanied by live music in the form of talented singer/guitarist Matthew Moon.

I found the vinyasa flow class to be moderately challenging without being too strenuous.  The warmth of the room made it easier for me to achieve deeper flexibility in each of the poses.  When I finished the hour long class, I felt not only the glow from the physical exertion, but more relaxed and recharged mentally and emotionally as well. 

If you're interested in experiencing David's accessible style of yoga instruction, he will be conducting a special Yoga+Wine workshop on April 14th and June 16th in addition to his usual Tuesday and Thursday evening classes. In addition, Exhale Santa Monica is offering "Toning Tuesdays" where ALL mindbody classes (Core Fusion, Core Energy Flow and Music Yoga Flow) are only $10.00!!!

The studio/spa features retail space with an assortment of unique yoga wear, skin/body care products and other accessories; healing water sanctuary complete with steam rooms, saunas as well as hot and cold plunge pools; and various treatment rooms.  In addition to yoga and core fusion classes, a full menu of facial, body and healing spa therapies round out the Exhale experience.  For more information on location, class schedules and spa treatments, check out the website at Exhale mindbodyspa.

Stella Louise

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Gym Etiquette-- Or How To Navigate the Gym Without Getting Drenched in the Sweat of Others--and Vice Versa!! FASHIONTRIBES LIFSTYLIST BLOG

Once upon a time Mommy taught us "please" and "thank you" and "I'm sorry" and "look both ways" and "take turns" and "share!" and all those good things that would serve us well in life.  Too bad many of us forgot those lessons a long time ago.  So for some of you, here's a refresher course in basic etiquette--specifically for all my fellow gym rats...

1.  Do not smell gross and sweaty BEFORE working out. 

I know for many people it may seem counterintuitive to come to the gym smelling clean and looking somewhat presentable--after all you're just gonna sweat from working out, right?  But for those of us who have to work out NEXT to you, please don't reek like some long dead piece of roadkill.  Have you ever tried doing an hour of cardio while HOLDING YOUR BREATH?  It's not fun.  Take a shower, use deodorant, brush your teeth (and your hair for god's sake!) and THEN come to the gym.  Your fellow gym rats olfactory systems will be grateful.

2.  Cover up!

There's good naked and then there's bad naked.  And then there's really really scary it-hurts-my-eyes naked.  Too frequently it ain't good naked that's on display in the locker room.  Use a towel, bring a robe.  I don't care how comfortable you are with your (cellulite-ridden, saggy, droopy, flabby, wrinkly) body, the rest of us don't need the nightmares.  This coming from a person who is rapidly entering the "bad" naked category.  Even if you have a Playboy centerfold body, do us a favor and show some modesty. Like the rest of us need your perfection slapped across our faces...

3.  The workout equipment is not a lounge chair.

You know that chick who brings a magazine to read in between her 97 sets of abductor reps?  I hate her.  Do not read or chat on your cell phone or go into a trance thinking about last night's episode of Lost and whether or not Jack and Kate will ever get it on and what the hell happened to Rose and Bernard and where did the polar bear come from while you are working out on a piece of equipment.  Do your reps and move on.  There are other people in the gym who are plotting your death as you recline on the butterfly press chatting up your pal Tiffany about the party at Hyde this weekend and by the way did she see last night's episode of Lost and I thought Kate blew up her stepfather and her real father was that military guy who released Sayid but really her stepfather was her real father and blah, blah, blah.  GET OFF THE FREAKING EQUIPMENT!!!

4.  Wait (patiently) for your turn.

Not every person using the equipment is chatting with Tiffany or reading the Fall Fashion Issue of Vogue, so give us a break.  Yeah, we know that you are acting under the assumption that your workout and your schedule is sooooo much more important than ours.   We realize that you believe that you are the center of the universe--but we didn't get that memo.  So unless you've waited while we've done a significant portion of our 97 sets, do NOT come up and ask when we'll be done or if you can work in with us.  I know that you absolutely, positively need to use the machine we started on right this very second, but chill out and wait your turn.  Find another machine to work out on.  And maybe another one after that.  If it looks like we are well on our way to doing 97 sets or have become caught up in an never ending conversation, then ASK.

Also, if you were just about to use a piece of equipment and someone else just beats you to it, do not have the presumptuousness to ask them to let you work out first.  Wait your turn--and for god's sake, don't HOVER!

5.  Share.

This is a follow-up to number 4, but I don't know how many times I've gone to sit on a vacant piece of equipment to have the person working out on the machine next to me say, "Oh--I was using that."  Okay, I say--then I'll use that machine (the machine they are currently on).  "Oh--I'm using this one, too."  Um, yeah right.   It violates laws of physics to use two machines at the same time--and it violates basic etiquette to try and pull that @#$%. If the gym isn't crowded, feel free to workout between several pieces of equipment.  But as soon as someone else wants to use a machine that you're not currently using, you need to adjust your workout.  Or go out and buy your own equipment for your own private gym.  I had one jerk tell me I was "Selfish" because I went to use a vacant machine that he was going to use after he finished up on the other machine he was on.  Excuse me?  You want to kick me off a machine so it will be available just for YOU and I'm selfish?  Idiot.  I paid my membership dues, too. 

6.  Timing issues.

Come to class on time.  There's always that stray person or two who stomps into class 10 minutes late, unfurls their yoga mat with a resounding THWACK!!! and slams their keys on the ground as the class is chilling out in child's pose. If you can't be on time, let's not be an irritating interruption for your fellow classmates who did show up at the appointed hour.  Slink into class and tiptoe to your spot, gently laying out your mat as you silently deposit shoes, keys, etc. into a corner. 

And speaking of interrupting, do NOT ask a fellow gym rat a question or made a comment while they are in the middle of doing their reps.  Ask between SETS not REPS. 

7.  Personal space.

Admittedly things can get a bit close in the gym.  But do try to respect those working out around you.  It's been said that we need an average of 18 inches of personal space--keep that in mind when setting up in a class, stretching or mopping up with a towel while using cardio machines, or even when in the locker room.  No one likes to have someone breathing down their neck or tailgating their @$$--especially if that someone has neglected to follow rule # 1.

8.  Use the towels.

Many gyms provide towels.  Use them.  Put them down between you and the weight machine.  Use them to wipe up after you've done your sets.  If you dribble from your water bottle, wipe it up with your towel.  Your mom always told you to clean up after yourself--and to wait your turn and share.  It's about time you listened to her!

Stella Louise

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