Year: 2012

My cold weather skin care tips

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Maybe it’s a Swiss thing, but I love the late fall and early winter, which bring with them the holidays, the cold, snow, and cashmere sweaters. My skin, however, suffers during this time of year. Colder temperatures, the dryer air, and heated interiors leave it feeling dry and flaky, sometimes even uncomfortable, rough, and red. Here are some tips I follow year after year to help my complexion remain calm, hydrated, and radiant throughout the winter.

  1. I switch to our gentle cream cleanser. While I love a foaming cleanser and the feel of “squeaky clean” skin during the warmer months, this does not work for me in colder, dryer weather.
  2. Even though a hot bath or shower is oh-so tempting in cooler temperatures, I try to resist. Hot water breaks down the skin’s natural moisturizing lipids and leave it feeling even dryer.
  3. I switch to our Kantic+ intensely nourishing cream. Year-round, this is my go-to cream when I travel by plane, which is so dehydrating to my skin. In the winter, I love this nourishing cream every day. I keep one at home and one in the office, as I like to reapply throughout the day, in particular before going outside.
  4. I also switch to a more hydrating body cream. I love the thickness and scent of Aveda’s Caribbean Therapy cream to ensure no “crocodile-like” legs.
  5. As a hydrating-booster treatment, I like to use our Kantic brightening moisture mask at least twice weekly. I apply it first thing in the morning upon entering the bathroom, and remove it at the end of my shower. It doesn’t add any time to my routine, and gives me instant hydration and radiance.
  6. I like a good humidifier to help combat the air’s dryness. A low-cost alternative is to simply place bowls of water in the rooms you spend most of your time in. As the water evaporates, it will add moisture to the air.
  7. I protect my hands with gloves when going outside, and use hand cream religiously, at least after every time I wash my hands. Of course, I love our antioxidant relief for hands and feet.
  8. I also protect my lips, which are always dryer in the winter. I carry Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour cream in my purse at all times. It is super hydrating, and doubles as lip gloss.
  9. On the ski slopes in particular, I remember to use a high SPF sunscreen (I love Anthelios), as the snow reflects UV rays and makes them even more damaging.
  10. Finally, I try to remember to hydrate from the inside out by drinking a lot of water – either with my favorite Super Orange Emergen-C, or as a cup of hot, freshly-brewed green tea.

BeautyView: Shel Pink, Founder, SpaRitual

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I am not easily star struck, not in the traditional Hollywood sense of the word anyway; unless you are Brad Pitt, my heart won’t even skip a beat. I do get completely star struck by successful entrepreneurs, however, as I did a few weeks ago. As I was leaving an industry dinner, I was introduced to Shel Pink, the Founder of SpaRitual. I was speechless for a minute, in awe, grinning uncontrollably, before trying to recover by hiding my non-manicured hands and telling her how much I admired her. And what is there not to admire? She is a gorgeous, successful, beauty entrepreneur, with ties to family business, and the creator of some of my favorite nail polish colors (her Surreal blue is particularly amazing). And she is a poet…

AP: What city were you born in? SP: Royal Oak, Michigan.

AP: What city to do you live in? SP: Los Angeles, CA.

AP: What is your middle name? SP: Lori.

AP: What is your astrological sign? SP: Leo.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? SP: The Spa Tradition.

AP: Least favorite thing. SP: The concept of “anti-aging”.

AP: What is your most prized possession? SP: I don’t have one. I value my family and friends the most.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? SP: I am a poet.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? SP: No. I haven’t worn one in over 20 years.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? SP: Blue Garnet.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? SP: Joseph Campbell.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? SP: Exercise.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? SP: 1. Don’t eat sugar. 2. Meditate 3. Carry a hands-free purse.

AP: What is your favorite book? SP: Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? SP: Anything with ginger liquor.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? SP: A regular meditation practice.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? SP: Lovely Day by Ramon Monegal.

AP: Botox or not? SP: Not.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? SP: Natural with highlights.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. SP: Love Song by Elton John, Lovesong by Adele, All I Need Is Love by The Beatles.

AP: Quote to live by. SP: I am.

AP: Who is your mentor? SP: My father-in-law and Orly Founder, Jeff Pink.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. SP: Be tenacious.

BeautyView: CG Funk, Vice President of Industry Relations & Product Development, Massage Envy Franchising

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One of the aspects of the beauty and wellness industry I love the most is how dynamic it is. A year ago, no-one had heard of BB creams, and now we can’t live without them. A few years ago, no-one had heard of $39 massages, and today there are  n654e1`wover 800 Massage Envy and Massage Envy Spa locations throughout the US. This company’s business model has changed our industry, and CG Funk has played a huge role in this change. I remember meeting her very briefly at ISPA in 2007, at my Alchimie Forever booth (who doesn’t remember a name like hers?!). At ISPA last month, I had the pleasure of being seated at her table for dinner – and loved chatting with her about the industry and politics in Arizona and DC. And I loved that she too remembered meeting me back in 2007!

AP: What city were you born in? CGF: I was born in Honolulu, HI. My Dad was in the Air Force so I spent the first few years of my life as an Island Girl. This must be one of the reasons I love to visit Oceanside spas!

AP: What city to do you live in? CGF: I live in Tempe, AZ. I have a pretty house in a community called “The Lakes” and my home is actually lakeside. I know it sounds a bit strange to live on a lake in Arizona but there are many diverse and interesting neighborhoods throughout the Phoenix area.

AP: What is your middle name? CGF: Gay (hence the G in the CG!).

AP: What is your astrological sign? CGF: Cancer.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? CGF: I like to refer to it as the beauty and wellness industry. And, my favorite parts are the people, the products, the places…………love it all.

AP: Least favorite thing. CGF: I struggled with this answer because every industry has it’s challenges. But, I always approach challenges as opportunities in disguise!

AP: What is your most prized possession? CGF: Besides my family and pets, my  old Gibson guitar, which is a remake of the 1934 blues edition, and a box full of mementos, cards, letters and pictures that I have collected throughout my life. I would be so sad to lose either of these.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? CGF: I am a song writer/singer and spend an evening a month jamming with musician friends.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? CGF: I have a Philip Stein watch, from their Prestige collection. The watch has two clock displays so I can keep track of where I am going and where I have been. I set the top display to the time zone I have traveled to and keep the bottom display on Arizona time.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? CGF: I am a ruby and turquoise girl but do dust off my pearl necklace every once in a while. It was my Grandmother’s and was purchased in Japan in the 1930s.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? CGF: Shirley MacLaine; she has led such an interesting life and is the epitome of a strong, independent and wild woman which is a personality I try to emulate!

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? CGF: I am constantly working and on the road so I have to be diligent about keeping balance when traveling. I make sure to exercise, do a little hotel room yoga, and curtail late night activities in favor of sleep. When I’m home, I make time to hike, attend yoga classes, meet up with friends and get plenty of rest.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? CGF: I am a proponent of traveling light and pack separates that are interchangeable. I always bring one extra outfit because one never knows when an unexpected event might take place on the road. I also pack some of my favorite things; IPAD (with books), facial cleansing cloths, a facial mask or peel, bath salts and yoga mat.

AP: What is your favorite book? CGF: I am an avid reader and have the opportunity to read a lot on airplanes. I’m in a book club that meets monthly and this Summer we read “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall, “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed and “Moloka’i by Alan Brennert. I just started “Boomerang” by  Michael Lewis and “Hell-Bent” by Benjamin Lorr. I also love books like the Da Vinci Code and one of my all time favorites is a very quirky read called  “Skinny Legs and All” by Tom Robbins.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? CGF: A fine Pinot Noir or chilled Veuve Clicquot, black label.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? CGF: Exercise and time for relaxation are top 2 beauty secrets. And, fitting in lots of laughter. Beauty comes from the inside out and having a full, happy life is paramount. Also, for an old gal like me, any product that promises anti-aging is a winner. I have a morning and evening skin care regiment that includes all the basics; cleansing, toning, treat and moisturize. And, I travel with these to keep my skin looking good on the road.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? CGF: For casual days, I have Philosophy – Inner Grace. And, for more serious evenings, I wear Jimmy Choo.

AP: Botox or not? CGF: I am all for any little enhancements for perking up the skin and adding the illusion of youth!

AP: Hair color: natural or not?  CGF: Both. I only weave in blond highlights so the rest is au naturel.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. CGF: I have very eclectic taste in music so let’s see………Dar Williams “Its Alright”, Kid Rock “Born Free” and Bliss “A Hundred Thousand Angels”.

AP: Quote to live by. CGF: “Sow a thought, reap an action, Sow an action, reap a habit, Sow a habit, reap a character, Sow a character, reap a destiny” by Ralph Waldo Emerson and “Life is like riding a bicycle, in order to stay balance, you must keep moving” by Albert Einstein.

AP: Who is your mentor? CGF: I have been blessed with two incredible bosses, one former and one current. I worked with Norm Cohn, the founder of the Utah College of Massage Therapy for 13 years. He was tough and kind at the same time. I learned how a vision can be manifested into reality through commitment, hard work and standing in belief, even through adversity.  Massage Envy’s CEO, Dave Crisalli, is one of the most intelligent, insightful and caring person I have ever known. To have a philosophical and forward thinking conversation with him, gets all my cylinders fired up and charging. He has offered me guidance so many times and I truly believe the success myself and my department has experienced is due to him. Dave hired me for this position 8 years ago and we both haven’t looked back since. I also have to give a special mention to my Father, who passed away several years ago. He taught me how to think outside the box, how to discover my own truth and how to be compassionate and loving.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. CGF: Be yourself. Bring all your talents, ideas and courage to the table. Don’t be afraid or back down if there are those that don’t agree with or support you. Great successes come when we commit to listening to our own hearts. Be ready to work hard for what you want and remember that we all had to start at the bottom and travel up in our careers. Be kind to those you interact with as I believe one of our marks in life is how well we treat people. Be a listener and a lifelong learner. Take time to consider where you are at today, where you want to be tomorrow and what do you want to be remembered for.

BeautyView: Jenefer Palmer, CSO, OSEA

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There is a lot of skin in the world, enough skin for many skin care lines to happily co-exist. I love to support other niche lines, and my friendship with Jenefer Palmer, Chief Seaweed Officer (CSO) of OSEA, is a perfect example. We first met a number of years ago at ISPA as I was admiring her products on the silent auction table. She happily came up to me and struck up a conversation that led to many more, and to the realization that we both went to the same high-school in Geneva, Switzerland! Over the years, we have both grown our brands, and we continue to see each other, at the very least annually at ISPA! As we reconnected a couple of weeks ago, I had to ask her all of my favorite questions…

AP: What city were you born in? JP: Atlanta, GA.

AP: What city to do you live in? JP: Malibu, CA.

AP: What is your middle name? JP: Palmer.

AP: What is your astrological sign? JP: Sagittarius.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? JP: Working with so many vibrant women.

AP: Least favorite thing. JP: Nanotechnology ingredients and the manufacturers who NEVER disclose it.

AP: What is your most prized possession? JP: My peace of mind.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? JP: My first archaeological dig in college was in Gravesend, England–near Pocahontas’s grave.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? JP: No, I have a sundial in my garden.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? JP: Can’t I have both?

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? JP: Madame Curie. Ideally, right after she won her first Nobel Prize.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? JP: My bathrobe.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? JP: 1. and 2. For the plane, satin eye shades and a soft hoodie. 3. On arrival, always pretend you are on local time.

AP: What is your favorite book?  JP: Embers by Sandor Marai.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? JP: Malibu SUNLIFE Organics Green Juice. My second choice is a zesty Zinfandel.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? JP: Sleep. Cat naps. All nighters. Any type of sleep.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? JP: Essential Hydrating Oil, which also exerts calming effects on the central nervous system.

AP: Botox or not? JP: No-tox pour moi.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? JP: At 58, you are asking me this question?

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. JP: “Dreamtown” by Jango (written/produced by my husband). “Nothing’s Real But Love” by Rebecca Furguson. “One Heartbeat” by Smokey Robinson.

AP: Quote to live by. JP: “Solvitur ambulando” (It is solved by walking).

AP: Who is your mentor? JP: Ocean. Sun. Earth. Atmosphere. They are my mentors.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. JP: Love yourself and put yourself first. Then, it’s easy to be kind to others.

The true meaning of "hunkering down"

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I married a man from Louisiana. Translation(s) = I married a man who can cook amazing dishes and introduces me to things such as turduckens. I am learning to appreciate bourbon. I now own seer-sucker clothes and know not to wear them before Easter or after Labor Day. Also, I married a man who knows a lot about hurricanes. Actually, we kind of started dating during Hurricane Gustav, now that I come to think of it.

We split our weekends between New Orleans and DC. And of course, as luck would have it, this weekend my husband flew from New Orleans (where hurricane season is over), to DC, only to be greeted by Sandy. He is stuck here for a couple extra days, which makes this entire “hunkering down” experience a lot more fun – and has been teaching me all kinds of things about hurricanes. Here is his top 10 to-dos to prepare for, and during, a big storm.

  1. To be always fully and correctly informed, forget about the TV. There’s an app for that, specifically, Hurricane by KittyCode. Don’t trust any other source of information.
  2. Have spare cash. As he tells me, “who knows when you will need to buy siphoned gas or produce from a guy off his truck.” (Me: “What?”)
  3. On that note, make sure your tank is full of gas. Since we prepared so late, this means I had to gas up at the (expensive) Exxon on Q and Wisconsin. I’ll plan better next time.
  4. Have bottles of water to spare. (Me: “What?” Him: “In case the sewage system backs up and you can’t drink the tap water.” Me: “Let’s go to Safeway.” Sold out. Conclusion: we have cases of Perrier in the house.)
  5. Make sure you have plenty of flashlights. His favorite one is a fluorescent Coleman lantern. (Me: “What? Let’s go to Safeway.” Sold out. “Let’s go to the hardware store.” Sold out.)
  6. Conclusion: plan B. I have plenty of candles and matches. Less effective, but so much more romantic… (my favorite: Aveda Shampure candles and tea lights).
  7. Make a pot of jambalaya. For the 6th time, Me: “What?” He explains, make a big pot of stew, so you have something cooked to eat for a few days if need be. The alternative, make sure you have lots of canned goods. (I now know he loves Cambells Chunky Sirloin the best).
  8. Pick up the lawn furniture. I don’t have any, now I know why.
  9. Make sure your car doesn’t flood. Meaning don’t park in an underground garage on K street. I was thinking that was a great idea since then no tree would fall on my car. I forgot about the flooding risk… maybe the sand bags should have given it away.
  10. Make sure all of your electrical devices are charged: phones, Ipods, Ipads, laptops, Wifi cards, Kindles, backup batteries, potable DVD players, and anything else you can think of.

And my favorite of all, have a (or a few) bottle(s) of Jameson’s to play the “hunker down drinking game.” Whenever anyone says, texts, or facebooks “hunker down” (including the news channel), take a shot.

Be safe, stay dry, stay warm, and “hunker down” my friends!

Geek 2 Chic!

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Sometime last year, I was asked to be on the NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) Gala Committee. Wow, I thought… I will finally be able to give back to this organization whose mission I so embrace, and who chose me as one of their first Locally Grown Entrepreneurs. As part of this committee, most would agree that I did all of the right things, given that the goal was to raise money: I reached out to my professional network, I lobbied my friends, I called in favors. The result: I raised some money. In the most unoriginal manner.

At that same meeting was a friend of mine, fellow Bourbon lover (we have had many a conversation about Maker’s Mark versus Knob Creek), Mark. While I was raising money in a conventional “in the box” manner, he rather decided to be creative, innovative, funny. He came up with the concept of “Geek 2 Chic.” Did I mention Mark is a bit of both? Fabulously chic, he is smart enough to be a geek. He is Dr. Mark Drapeau. Oh, and he works for Microsoft. For the Office of Civic Innovation. That’s an understatement… For its third year in a row, his brainchild (helped by Heather Guay from Bloomingdales and MCd by Angie Goff of NBC Washington), the Geek 2 Chic event tonight was a huge success. The concept? Have men who would typically be described as geeks model the latest men’s fashion trends on the runway at Bloomingdales.

While all models were more chic than geek, while there was attitude, champagne drinking, dancing, dunking , and a capella singing on the runway, two models were particularly memorable. First, there was Adam Jaffe, of Mercury Continuity. He gets extra credit because somehow I am the one he threw bright blue Calvin Klein briefs to. Blue Calvin Klein briefs with the letters MC (I assume standing for “Mercury Continuity”) painted on in glitter. A marketing idea I will have to ponder…

Then, most importantly, there was 2012 NFTE graduate Jordon Brooks. He was the true star of this evening’s show, the reminder of why we were all there, drinking champagne and paying to shop. An alumnus of Croom Vocational High School, he won a standing ovation from a crowd of over 700 at the 2012 NFTE DC Gala while presenting his amazing story of overcoming life obstacles, the lure of the streets, and building Threshold Graphics, his very own graphic design business.

Not surprisingly, the event was extremely well attended, by the likes of Stephanie Greene, Kate Michael, Maggie O’Neill (whose husband modeled), Terry Galvez, Mary-Kate Rasa, and NFTE Board Members, including one of my best friends, Minal Damani Kundra, and her sister, Pallavi Kumar. Throughout the evening, we sipped champagne, socialized, took pictures, were taken pictures of, and clapped and encouraged these fabulous male models. And then we shopped, with the good excuse that 10% of all Bloomies purchases that night was being donated to NFTE.

What a fabulous evening celebrating entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, fashion, technology, and the American Dream!