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MAC partners with Archie Comics in celebration of Betty and Veronica

I’m going to nerd out for a minute and confess I used to buy Archie Comic books in middle school the way I buy fashion magazines now. I was totally caught up in the whole soap opera of who Archie should pick: Betty or Veronica; and despite countless covers saying a decision would be reached, inevitably one never was. Even more embarrassing (as my mother  will attest to) these two high schoolers were amongst my original list of fashion inspirations — yes, I actually was introduced to the concept of a chunky long sweater with leggings because of Betty and elements of my grunge phase was stripped from that comic book.

While it’s been well over a decade since I’ve picked up an issue for the iconic comic book series, imagine my excitement over the announcement that coming spring 2013, M·A·C Cosmetics and Archie Comics are collaborating on a full colour cosmetics collection in celebration of the iconic looks of Betty and Veronica.

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When was the last time you visited the Periodontics? Gum Disease 101

Meet Periodontist, Dr. Greg Diamond, and Dental Hygienist, Grainne Ferris of New York City’s The Diamond-Schlesinger Group! Before stepping into their office I didn’t know what a periodontist was much less a reason to visit one.

A periodontist is a dental expert who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of gum disease and in the surgical placement and long-term maintenance of dental implants. Think of them as a specialist in the dentistry world — they perform routine cleanings and x-rays the way your dentist does, only they don’t handle fillings/cavities, they focus on your gum and bone health instead.

Gum disease is an infection of tissues supporting the teeth, meaning it’s a problem with the teeth UNDERNEATH the gums, not the gums themselves. The reason it’s important to go to a specialist is so that they can catch it before it’s evident that you have a problem. If gum diseases is detected, it can be treated through a deep cleansing process to remove plaque underneath the gum line as well as with antibiotics.

How often do you need to go to the Periodontist? Once a year or possibly just once depending on if there are any issues detected. Gum disease can be genetic so

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COMING SOON! Kiehl’s NEW Fragrance Line: Aromatic Blends

Okay Kiehl’s fans, good news! The skincare brand is introducing a new fragrance category: Aromatic Blends!

Launching with four scents, Orange Flower & Lychee, Vanilla & Cedarwood, Nashi Blossom & Pink Grapefruit, and Fig Leaf & Sage; each Aromatic Blend is available in a Fragrance ($40/30ml, $75/100ml), Skin-Softening Body Lotion ($26) and Skin-Softening Body Cleaners ($24).

Formulated with sustainably sourced notes from all over the world, Aromatic Blends are designed to take Kiehl’s customers on a voyage through the lush countryside of Provence, a desert oasis in Morocco, the dense jungle of Uganda and the tranquil gardens of Japan. This journey will be evident through their window displays and reminiscent as you smell each, unique fragrance in-store.

While the collection doesn’t officially launch until July 10th (don’t worry, they are available now for pre-order on Kiehls.com), we’re excited to share a sneak peak of the Kiehl’s fragrances and the visuals!

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Hot Nails for Summer: Polish & Co.

Adding a little southern comfort — or rather color — to my nail polish collection is North Carolinas’s newest beauty brand, Polish & Co. Founded by nail industry expert, Theresa Williamson, who recognizes the role nail polish plays as an accessory (I appreciate that), the nail maven has created a full line of fabulous and fun nail polish colors sure to compliment any skintone.

What I like most about this polish, is the thin, easy to use wand makes for an even application that only requires 2 coats for full coverage. The color that shines out of the bottle is the same color you can expect on your nails. Best of all Polish & Co. are 3 Free (non toxic), and void of Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP or Parabens.

Fun for summer scope these brights (additional colora available via their website): Sweet Caroline (baby blue), Cash Only (blue/green), Caution (bright yellow), and Pink You (hot pink)

{Scope me in shade Cash Only}

Equally as fun as the colors showed is their website, polishandcompany.com, so go ahead and check it out!

Are you an Aveeno Active Natural? Harboring Hearts is!

Do you remember how excited I was to be featured by AVEENO (in Elle Magazine no less!!) for their ACTIVE NATURALS campaign? If you need a refresher the print ad is below and the campaign centered around  AVEENO awarding eight grants in the amount of $10,000 to a different fan monthly (starting in May) who visited their Facebook page and  shared how they live as ACTIVE NATURALS and work to enrich, engage, and encourage a beautiful change in their community.

The concept can conceived from AVEENO’s belief that the ACTIVE NATURALS® ingredients in their products help care for skin and hair to make a healthier, more beautiful difference. So this year, they decided to focus on how people can live as ACTIVE NATURALS® — each one of us has the power to make a difference in the lives of our family and friends, and in our communities.

Woot woot, my AVEENO Active Naturals print campaign

Lets just say I was so excited about the campaign, and all the good Aveeno was up to that I obviously posted about it, tweeted it non-stop, turned to Facebook… (I mean I did everything short of make a t-shirt and wear it everyday). Well I’m so glad I did, because in all of my social media promotion, one of my readers entered her very worthy charity, Harboring Hearts, and was the June’s recipient!

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#Accessorize4Wellness with Pamela Pekerman

If I had to describe, Pamela Pekerman in three words, it would probably be: fit, fierce and fabulous. So when the style expert hosted her Accessorize for Wellness event showcasing her tips and product recommendations to mirror those three adjectives, I was so there (and taking notes!). Take the journey with Pamela, all of her recommendations below:

{Meet our host, Pamela Pekerman}

{Seriously though, how happy does Pamela make you? Even in 100 degree weather this stylista’s hair looks flawless and does anyone else need a minute for her Barbiesque neon heels?}

And now for our recommendations…

1. Pluggz – What an innovative flip-flop company. They look like regular rubber flip-flops, only they have this big black plug in the center of the shoe that allows the flow of free electrons between you and the earth when you walk . The technology is set to mimic that great feeling you get when you walk barefoot on grass and sand that comes from standing on a natural energy source. Personally, I think it has a reflexology vibe with the plug hitting the center of my foot when I walk. I’m into it.

2. Yummie Tummie – Can one ever have too much shape wear? Yummie Tummie is a modern body contouring shaper, with a full clothing line of intimates and seperates that works to slip your mid-section and camouflaging visible lumps and bumps. Their collection doesn’t need to be concealed under clothing and can be exposed to do it’s job! Their tanks (I am modeling the Original below) are designed to take 5 lbs off your appearance! And they are super comfortable and fashionable. Everyone needs a good collection of basic tanks… am I right?

{What do you think, do I look 5 lbs thinner in my Yummie Tummie Original Tank?}

3. The Fitness Cell Collective – Taking a “cellular” approach to fitness, this semi-private personal trainer center is located on the UES and is where the event was hosted.  You can learn more on their website or follow my tweets @PrettyConnected on Thursday at 5pm (the hashtag is #getfit) when I take my first class! “The sessions are specially designed to keep the body’s structural and cardio-respiratory systems in a constant state of adaptation” — I have no idea what that means, but I look forward to finding out.  (You can also follow their twitter handle @CellCollective)

4. Emmi Swiss Yogurt– My grandmother used to say 2 tablespoons of yogurt a day fixes everything, which is probably why I try to eat it daily. While Emmi has a full line of flavored yogurts (they recently launched Green Apple), I’m afraid when it comes to yogurt

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Celebrate Summer In Clinique at Montauk: Get your Bronze on and be Happy!

Not to get all Partridge Family on you, but there is such a reminisce of Come On Get Happy with the new summer collection from Clinique (right down to the 60s color scheme and flowers on the packaging, and bus tour they’re putting on this weekend in the Hamptons). I just started using their new Superbalanced Powder Bronzer and it’s not leaving my makeup case this summer. It’s. So. Good.

GET YOUR GLOW ON!

Clinique has some radient summer launches starting with their new Superbalanced Powder Bronzer. The product is quite genius; unlike most loose powder bronzers, the compact acts like a shaver and converts the pressed powder to loose as you turn the compact so you can control how much product to apply. Then swipe in your powders brush, give that brush a few shakes (to even out the product and dust off the excess) and apply to your face, and neck if needed. The formula is fantastic. It sets so effortlessly onto skin without being cakey and offers a very natural-looking sun-kissed glow. I use it all over my face with a focus on the half circle going from my forehead to cheeks. It feels very light and the pigment stays even from the moment it hits your face (it’s not like one of those strong bronzers where if you put too much you have a dark streak that you really have to work in to dissolve). Clinique recommends it for nearly all skins, since even drier types tend to get a little oilier when temperatures rise.

GET (event more) HAPPY!

What would summer be without a new addition of Clinique’s cult classic, Happy! Clinique has launched a limited edition Clinique Happy Summer Spray, which can be described much like the packaging it comes in; Reminiscent of happy, sunny days, this floral fragrance takes the heart of the original Happy coupled with warm, citrusy notes for a summer vibe.

Clinique has additionally created the ultimate sun-kissed glow how-to on their site. See the products they recommend and how to get the look: HERE

Headed to Montauk? Mark your calendar!

Celebrate Summer In Clinique! From July 30 – July 1st, Clinique mobile beauty studio beach truck will be visiting the Hamptos so people can easily purchase their favorite Clinique summer beauty essentials on-to-go. Guests will also receive sweet treats and summertime giveaways.

Saturday, June 30th: 12pm – 4pm, Surf Lodge, 183 Edgemere Street, Montauk, NY

Sunday, July 1st: 12pm – 4pm, Sole East Beach, 90 Second House Roads, Montauk, NY

Kiehl’s & Cyndi Lauper Kick off Pride Weekend

Last night, skincare brand, Kiehl’s Since 1851 showed their true colors and kicked off Pride weekend with the one and only Cyndi Lauper! The Grammy and Emmy-award winning artist, hosted an unforgettable evening, which honored her LGBT charity, the True Colors Fund to which Kiehl’s donated a $5,000 check to.

Kiehl’s President, Chris Salgardo will be joining Cyndi Lauper this Sunday for the Gay Pride Parade where the duo will serve as Grand Marshal’s! For anyone unable to watch the parade live, you can follow Chris’ twitter handle @KiehlsPrez for live updates from the parade and tweet along!

Now for my official freak out! I MET CYNDI LAUPER!!!! I needed a moment for that. This woman has inspired me endlessly over the past decades and is such a role model and spokesperson for originality and being yourself. She’s so hip and looked flawless on the eve of her 59th birthday sporting a blonde bob with pink streaks.

Highlights of the evening…

{Interviewing Cyndi Lauper!}

{I met fashion designers, Robert and Jeffrey of Costelloe Tagliapietra!!! I’m such a fan}

{Always so fun to see Richie Rich, especially when he’s giving me a much needed touchup — yes, he’s powdering my nose in this picture}

{Moi with Kiehl’s President, Chris Salgardo, and Fashion blogger, Mellie of TheFatApple.com}

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HBA Global Expo: Where Beauty Meets Business

This week we kicked off the 20th Anniversary of the HBA Global Expo in NYC. The 3-day conference (which ends today) that celebrates “creativity, innovation & beyond” displays a vast variety of brands, products and packaging suppliers in the beauty industry.

{Key note Panel: The Future of Beauty}

The conference opened with a Keynote Panel on The Future of Beauty, moderated by Jane Larkworthy, Beauty Director of W Magazine. Panelist included Deanna Kangas, President & CEO, Stila Cosmetics, Sonia Kashuk, Make-up artist and Entrepreneur, Jim Markham, Founder & CEO ColorProof Evolved and Color Care and (possibly my new hero), Catherine Walsh, Sr. Vice President, Coty Prestige.

Key points I found interesting included the shift around 2009/2010, with the major skincare and cosmetic trend leaning towards having the “flawless face” and by such a serge in tinted moisturizers and a stronger desire for multi-use products. Also the role value plays into the sales model at both a mass and prestige level and how the lines between the two are becoming more blurred. And with this over-saturation of products in the market, consumers really expect new and different when shopping new brands and products. Sonia Kashuk made a good point that for brands to succeed (or at least increase the odds of being profitable) they need 3 things: a point of difference, funding, and strong distribution plan.

My favorite question was then Jane asked each panelists what their current “wow” product was that they considered phenomenal. Here’s what they had to say:

  • Deanna Kangas – Stila Beauty Balm
  • Sonia Kashuk – Oribe hair products
  • Jim Markham, His new ColorProof line
  • Catherine Walsh – Oribe hair products and Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

{Social Media Panelists: Peter Thomas Roth, Jeremy Goldman, Rochelle Ray}

While HBA has the standard expo format with booths lining the Jacob Javits Center, my favorite part of the conference is the panel discussions. There’s so many amazing minds within this industry dispelling their knowledge and discussing relevant topics about the industry today. One of the panels I attended focused on the roll of social media and branding and featured skincare founder, Peter Thomas Roth, social media guru, Jeremy Goldman and founder or Rae Cosmetics, Rochelle Rae. The point that really was drilled in was be transparent and human. Twitter and Facebook are very forgiving to human error and if anything relate to it and like you more. Case and point the more sterile and brand-like you are the tougher it will be to engage your consumers on this channel.

{Press lounge}

While the panel discussions are intimate, I find the main floor with all the booths displaying a little overwhelming. HBA was very generous enough to set up a press event and give my fellow bloggers and I a tour of the main floor and some brands to keep en eye out for. I also had a chance to reconnect with some friend!

{Me with one of my favorite makeup artists, KJ Bennett, and blogger/friend Shaunya of shopeatandsleep.com}

{And I got to hang out with the amazing and talented beauty expert Milly! If you don’t read her Beauty Logic Blog, you should!}

Until next time! Thank you HBA.

Cool off Today (& Tomorrow) with Clinique and the Food Network Magazine

Join Clinique and Food Network Magazine today, June 20 and tomorrow, June 21, for refreshing ice pops inspired by Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm. The timing could not be better as it’s scorching hot out today! The truck will be making stops all over NYC, serving up oversized orange ice pops. Locations listed below. Stay cool!

And the truck is off…

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