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Skincare Review: How to Get ‘The Ciminelli Glow’

Susan Ciminelli is famously known for the amazing way one’s skin glow when leaving her holistic Spa & Salon.  A staple destination stop in the Bergdorf Goodman penthouse for 10 years, recently moved to an exclusive location on 56th Street.

Still offering her harolded Seawed and Marine lotion along with a variety of holistic nourishment and healing treatments including her Broad Ban Light Rejuvenating Treatment, Aromatherapy Facials, and Nutritional Consultations (for a full list of treatments offered visit susanciminelli.com/spa).

They call it “The Susan Ciminelli Glow,”  for a reason. After a treatment at the spa or a strict Susan Ciminelli regimen (especially if the Sensitive Skin Formula + Marine Lotion are involved), your skin simply radiates like nothing you’ve ever experienced. At least that’s what it was like for me. Starting with a spa treatment was the best way to start this routine, since my esthetician, Lali helped pick the perfect products for my skin and take me through what would be routine. (Lali is also the eyebrow queen if you’re looking to fix your shape).

Susan Ciminelli

Here’s my routine:

This aromatherapy milk cleanser, gently removes the day’s impurities and make-up without leaving behind any residue, just clean and pampered skin.  Although if you wear a lot of makeup add in a quick remover, otherwise it’s a great way to start your morning. Super gentle and smells like lavendar.

Using one of earth’s greatest resource for nutrients, this deep pore cleanser uses the anti-aging power of the sea to cleanse and purify skin leaving a healthy glow. While it does gently exfoliate as well it’s void of any harsh scrubbers and has almost a menthol feeling to it.

This scrub is the best! It may even be my #1 in the collection. Invigorating and gentle on skin, this powerful scrub helps minimizes the appearance pores by getting deep into skin and clearing out dirt and bacteria thats hard to reach, leaving skin fresh and smooth.  The bamboo scrub is interchangeable with the Algae Deep Cleanse as a weekly exfoliant. If you like to feel like you’re really scrubbing out those pores, this is the scrub for you! You’re skin feels amazing after using it.

The next 3 products (this one the Seawater and Marine Lotion) go in a 1-2-3 order on top of each other while your skin is wet from the last and what deliver “The Ciminelli Glow.” After these three together you look like you left the spa.

The Sensitive Skin Formula fight the effects of harsh weather conditions, using the same oils used by the Ancient Egyptians to protect and strengthen their skin, this unique blend strengthens capillary walls, reducing and avoiding redness.

This mineral mist spray is a natural antiseptic and astringent with trace minerals and elements that absorb quickly and easily into the skin. It’s also refreshing to spray during the day for some extra hydration.

Martha Stewart recently named it as her must-have in The New York Times and it’s easy to understand why. This potent, anti-aging, skin nourishing elixir is as close to a miracle as you can get. It hydrates, nourishes, reduces cellulite and helps prevent wrinkles, fine lines and stretch marks.

This sea clay and seawater extract mask brings detoxifying power of the ocean to your skin.  Drawing out toxins trapped in the skin, the mask heals, helps prevent break outs, calms irritated skin, and all while infusing skin with healthy anti-oxidants. It’s a little firm so you can spray it with the Seawater and use once a week.

This cream contains miracle anti-aging ingredient Matrixyl 3000 which has been known to stimulate collagen production.  Studies have shown amazing results such as a 44.9% reduction of deep wrinkles, 16.6% lifting effects, and a 14.4% reduction of roughness within 2 months of daily use.  It’s definitely a heavier cream then I’m used to but great for retaining moisture during harsh winter months.

  • SPF 30 ($60) – PC FAVORITE!

I confess when the Day Cream is too heavy for me, I skip straight to the SPF. It’s the perfect face product for me. Containing an expected combinations of ingredients such as Japanese Green Tea and Ginko Biloba, this unique sunscreen offers the power of protection of SPF 30 in a luxurious moisturizer.  Effective on it’s own or layered with any other moisturizing lotion.

 More on Susan Ciminelli:

Growing up in Buffalo, New York where harsh weather conditions and, what she later discovered, lifestyle and wrong diet can wreak havoc on skin. Susan started at a young age to read up on and look into healthy living, books and healing.  At the young age of 14,  she was diagnosed with an ulcer and frequently found herself getting rashes and break outs.  A year later she went to Italy to live with relatives where she discovered her calling and continued on her mission of healthy living for healthy skin.  There, she found that people cooked with and ate fresh ingredients, learned about energy meridians in the body and other Eastern and alternative medicine concepts from a relative who practiced acupuncture.  With the knowledge she was gaining, she began to combine Eastern and Western skincare philosophies while continuing her travels through Europe picking up on spa treatments such as thalassotherapy (seaweed treatments).   Susan went on to travel to Egypt where she learned about unique essential oils which she eventually incorporated in her own line.  Moving back to the states, to New York City, Susan landed a job at a cosmetics counter at Bloomingdale’s where she advised women on skincare and good nutrition, acquiring quite a following.  She began a spa out of her own apartment, moving to larger and larger spaces over the years until she found herself in the penthouse space of Bergdorf Goodman in 1996; where she stayed for 10 years until she eventually moved to her space today on 56th Street. 

Learn more susanciminelli.com

{Disclaimer: I got a sample}

Beauty Travel Essentials: 12 Products that Got me Through Africa

Let me tell you, when you spend 20 days traveling through dust and sand, while being unable to drink much less brush your teeth with tap water, it takes some solid beauty products to keep everything in check. And considering I was basically on the line of the equator for most of my trip efficatious SPF products were a must. While I didn’t pack any hair products that knocked my socks off (now that I’m home I need to bathe in leave-in conditioners), I made some outstanding face, body, mouth choices — and here are the products that stood out: 

Supergoop!, Crest 3d, Reach, Nivea

1. Crest 3D White ($3.47/5.8oz) – like I said, I was brushing with bottled water for 3 weeks, battling 90 degree weather and

Breakfast with Colbert MD Skincare

colbert md

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting in on a breakfast for the introduction of a dermatological skincare line called Colbert MD by Doctor David Colbert, author and founder of New York Dermatology Group (NYDG).  The  dermatology group takes a unique, inter-disciplinary approach to total health and timeless beauty.  NYDG integrates both

BEE-eautiful Honeymania Body Butter from The Body Shop! Shop Today for 50% off!

16Winter months in New York City always leave my skin crying for nourishment—between the inside dry heat and outside bitter cold its hard to keep my skin pleased.  Since the launch of The Body Shop’s Honeymania collection

5 Websites Perfect For Everyone on Your List: From the Foodie to the Beauty (obsessed)

With the holidays around the corner, if you need some last minute inspiration for everyone on your list, here are 5 websites sure to knock their socks off. I tend to take gift giving very seriously, and each of these sites has truly special and great unique finds!

1. OpenSkyhttp://www.opensky.com/explore

A fun way to shop with your friends, OpenSky.com is a unique hub to uncover new, artisanal goods and shops you may never have found if shopping alone.  Built around online stores from a diverse range of brands –mens and womens–that cover fashion, beauty, home, jewelry, kids and beyond, Opensky uses recommendations from their online community as part of the selling epxerience. Share what you love and find out what your friends love – the more you connect, the more you discover. (Pssst If you’re a jewelry fiend check out The Alchemy Shop on OpenSky: http://www.opensky.com/the-alchemy-shop)

OpenSky

2. Eating Toolshttp://www.eatingtools.com

Based in Brooklyn, Eating Tools curates a selection of extraordinary, unique and handmade eating and cooking tools like you’ve never seen before. They work with artists and craftspeople who design and create incredible culinary utensils, ranging from handmade sterling silver and titanium chopsticks to one-of-a-kind hand crafted chef knives. For the food lovers on your gift list, Eating Tools is guaranteed to have something special that will blow their mind. Good news Pretty Connected readers! Eating Tools is offering our readers free shipping with any $50+ purchase with code “PRETTY” at checkout.

Eating Tools

3. Covet+Lout, http://covetandlou.com

The world of high-end, forward thinking womenswear is just a click away when you visit covetandlou.com.  I’m so in love

{Giveaway} MyChelle Daily Basics Kit ($82 Value) + Great Black Friday Deals

myChelle

Where does the time go? Are we really mere days away from the Black Friday/Cyber Monday insanity? Well hopefully by now you have your list of shops to hit, I for one will be doing my shopping online and am excited to share that MyChelle Dermaceuticals is offering buy one, get one free for all products, site-wide on Black Friday and 50% off all products on Cyber Monday.

To celebrate we’re giving away some of our  favorite MyChelle Dermaceutical’s products! One lucky winner will receive the All/Combination Daily Basics Kit which includes MyChelle’s Fruit Enzyme Cleanser, Perfect C Serum and Pumpkin Renew Cream – a total value of $82.

mychelle

WIN IT!! There are 3 ways to enter:  Each option counts as a separate entry.

  • Follow @prettyconnected on twitter & tweet her using the hashtags #MyChelleGiveaway. SAMPLE TWEET: RT & Follow @prettyconnected for ur chance to win this @MyChelle Daily Basics Kit ($82 value): http://bit.ly/1949jkx #MyChelleGiveaway
  • Follow @PrettyConnected on Instagram and like the corresponding post at instagram.com/prettyconnected
  • Comment under this post why you want to win

**Extra Credit: Like Pretty Connected on Facebook at Facebook.com/PrettyConnected and comment under the giveaway post

What’s New at Per-fekt Beauty…

While I love colorful eyeshadows, high-drama lipsticks, and unusual nail polishes, it’s hard to find room in my morning to put brush to face. So I was thrilled to attend Per-fekt Beauty’s latest launch event, which focused on products for women who are crunched for time and need to streamline their routine.

Perkect

Every Per-fekt product is formulated to feel silky soft and incredibly light, and provide invisible coverage to retexturize and enhance complexions of every shade. 

{Giveaway} Win $350 worth of Beauty Products from SpaceNK!

Space NK US Autumn Beauty Edit GWP.Sept.12.2013Happy Friday everyone! For this weeks giveaway I’m so excited to be giving away $350 worth of beauty products from one of my favorite retailers, Space NK! The giveaway includes a selection of must-have products from 28 of their featured brands including Lipstick Queen, Bumble and Bumble, By Terry, Caudalie, Clark’s Botanical, Hourglass, Oribe and more! (Full list featured at the bottom of the post).

Whether you’re looking to transition your skincare regimen or update your beauty look for fall, be sure to visit Space NK on September 12th for their “Autumn Beauty Edit” event that’s being hosted at all 24 of their US locations. During this special, one-day-only shopping event, guests can meet with experts from the brands they carry for personalized classes, makeovers, advice and tips. And for shoppers who spend $250, they will receive the gift bag we’re giving away (valued at $350)!

WIN IT! There are 2 ways to enter (each option counts as a separate entry):

1. Leave a comment on why you want to win.

2. Follow us on twitter and tweet about the giveaway or event using the hashtag #PCgiveaway OR TWEET: RT & follow @prettyconnected for ur chance to #win $350 in beauty products from @Space_NK. #beautyedit #PCgiveaway http://bit.ly/19oRP3F

**Extra credit if you “Like” Pretty Connected on Facebook at Facebook.com/PrettyConnected

WHAT’S IN THE BAG:

Dermalogica Launches New Line Acne Line for Teens

Dermaloga Clear Start

Even if you’re not going back to school in a few weeks, autumn feels like the start of something new—a chance to make a change in your routine. And if there’s one routine that’s probably overdue for an overhaul, it’s your skin care regimen.

Beauty class was in session when Dermalogica took over Dylan’s Candy Bar to launch Clear Start, a new skin care line for teens and young adults that’s targeted at treating and preventing the symptoms of mild to moderate acne. Acne affects

Does your skin needs saving? Here’s how YOU can tell!

They call it the “the road to healthy skin” for a reason. Sure, it sounds like a funny way to phrase it, but perfect skin isn’t something that happens overnight. Hopefully you’ve been following my #HealthySkin series and instagram posts with Aveeno and the Glam Network. If not, a lot of the key points can be summed up by this quote by fellow AVEENO Ambassador and actress, Jennifer Aniston,“I’m always saying it – drink plenty of water.  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – both inside and out, and this includes using AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Lotion.  It hydrates my skin and makes it feel so soft.  Get plenty of sleep of course.  Also, exercise and eat healthy, well-balanced meals while still indulging and allowing yourself to have a treat.  And, always, always wear sun protection.”   

Aveeno

That’s the overview; a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle and skincare regimin will do wonders for your skin. However, most of us don’t know what we’re looking for; so here are some common signs that your skin needs rescuing:

Uneven skin tone and general dullness – You know when people talk about their skin glowing? Or rather if you don’t because your skin looks tired. If so, opt for a moisture-rich cleanser, like AVEENO Positively Radiant Cleanser that can