Shecky's Beauty Night Out

On Wednesday, November 3rd I attended the annual Shecky's Beauty Night Out held at La Venue.

I was happy to see some of my favorite beauty brands and learn about new product launches, and visit with brands I was not familiar with.

One of my favorites is Fresh skincare, cosmetics and fragrances. Fresh received Shecky's Beauty At Its Best Award for Best Lip Moisturizer for their Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 and Best Fragrance for Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum Rollerball.

Arganica's argan oil is a Shecky's Beauty At Its Best award winner for 2010. This argan oil is my new favorite - it is lightweight, absorbing into the skin without leaving an oily feeling. It's therapeutic as well as hydrating. The love the scent of argan oil mixed with frankincense and lavender. They recently launched a restorative elixir, mixed with argan oil, aloe vera and white tea. The elixir is great to use for irritated skin, especially in the winter months when your skin gets really dry.

Jodie Tassello and Bianca Beldini, co-founders of Arganica

Dermalogica has a great line of skincare products, with a newly launched AGE Reversal Eye Complex. Some of my favorite products are included in the Ultracalming™ system. The Shecky's Beauty gift bag included Dermalogica's multi-active toner and climate control lip treatment - the lip treatment will be great for colder weather and preventing chapped lips.


Another favorite makeup brand is Sue Devitt Beauty, with the Eye Intensifier Pencil and Mini Lip Gloss as two of my favorites. The fall collection includes a new Lash Intensifier Treatment & Lengthening Mascara.


A new brand that I am not familiar with is Rice Force, winning Shecky's Beauty At Its Best award for Best Makeup Remover. They offer a Deluxe Trial Kit of their Deep Moisture Series to try out for just $29.80.


The Body Shop won Shecky's Beauty At Its Best Award for Best Cleanser for the Nutriganics Foaming Facial Wash and Best Body Moisturizer for its Body Butter.


So overall it was a good night, especially once you add cocktails to the mix. One thing I don't get is that it is supposed to be a night focused on beauty, so why would there be jewelry, apparel and accessory vendors there? I've liked some of the previous Shecky's Beauty Night Out events better, where there were more free treatments - hand massages, eyebrow shaping, manicures, makeup and hair styling, and less focus on vendors trying to sell their product. If it's one of your favorite brands, then it's convenient to buy something there, but to be pushed into buying product you've never tried before just doesn't interest me, especially when you don't know if it will irritate your skin. Just like I prefer to try on clothes before I buy them to make sure they fit, I also like to sample skincare products to make sure it's right for my skin.

I loved it when you just went from booth to booth, learned about the product and received samples to try out. Also, I was surprised to see that there were no actual makeup products in the goodie bag. In the past I remember receiving products such as Laura Gellar blush or Sheer Cover mineral foundation. There was no Dove lounge and no giveaways with Johnson & Johnson or Boots this time. Instead of the beer tasting, it would be cool if you used that sit-down space for a how-to session on how to apply a smoky eye, or steps to properly cleanse, or do a skincare sampling class. I hope Shecky's will really focus on improving the Beauty Night Out event for next year.

- Kim Weling

Dermalogica Academy Grand Opening

On Wednesday, July 28th, Dermalogica celebrated the grand opening of the Dermalogica Academy, with Dermalogica Founder Jane Wurwand and Step Up Women's Network. Dermalogica Academy is the first undergraduate curriculum for skin therapists. The new 6,000 square foot training facility is located in the heart of Chelsea, at 140 West 22nd Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Students (maximum 12 per class) will be able to complete the New York State licensing requirements of 600 hours in less than 18 weeks. The Academy is divided into five separate learning centers: classroom, lab, MicroZone stations, Skin Bar and Treatment Room. By day two, students move into a hands-on mode, beginning the process of working directly with the skin by learning and practicing initial techniques on fellow classmates. Four and five weeks into their studies, students interact with clients at the Skin Bar, and by week eight begin to give treatments to clients who visit the Academy at a significant price reduction. 20 Minute MicroZone treatments are $20, 60 minute skin treatments including extractions are $50, 15 minute touch therapies (stress relief at back, aroma-point at face or deep tissue at face and shoulder) can be added to skin treatments for $10 and extremely inexpensive waxing services that range from $5 to $30.

There are future plans of opening as many as 10 Dermalogica Academy locations across the United States during the next eight years as well as providing teacher training for licensed instructors and financial assistance offerings for students.

Here are some more pictures I took at the opening. As big as this facility is, it was a jammed packed event. I look forward to coming back to experience one of the skin treatments, with the certificate I received in the gift bag. I also look forward to using the "meet Dermalogica skin kit as well as the UltraCalming™ sampler pack.

- Kim Weling

Summer Travel Essentials

I didn't get in as much writing as I would have liked in June, but for good reason - I took time off for a much needed vacation to the Amangiri Resort & Spa in Utah, also hitting Las Vegas and The Grand Canyon along the way.

I just wanted to share some of my favorite travel essentials that I was sure to pack:

Dermalogica UltraCalming™ Treatment Kit - I don't usually have sensitive skin, but I found my skin getting irritated by the change in weather and dry environment I found myself in. This travel-size kit helped combat any redness and irritations on my face. The kit includes the UltraCalming™ Cleanser, UltraCalming™ Mist, UltraCalming™ Serum Concentrate, UltraCalming™ Barrier Repair and UltraCalming™ Relief Masque. Retail: $40.

Dermalogica Daylight Daily Defense Kit has everything I need for sun protection. The kit includes:

Solar Defense Booster SPF 30 - can be mixed with your moisturizer or foundation or worn alone.

Multivitamin BodyBlock SPF 20, a body moisturizing sunscreen that protects from damaging UVA and UVB rays.

Solar Shield SPF 15 - Very water resistant (up to 80 minutes) and in the form of a stick, acts as a sunscreen and moisture shield for the lips, ears and nose.

After Sun Repair - a treatment balm that helps repair recent UV damage while instantly soothing overexposed skin. A blend of homeopathic herbs reduces irritations, redness and painful sunburn. I'm thinking I should keep this refrigerated when possible, for a more cooling effect. Retail price for the kit is $35.

Origins Modern Friction™ - this is a great exfoliator to use 2-3 times a week, leaving skin polished, smooth and luminous. I also love the aromas of Bergamot and Peppermint. Retail: $37.50.

Borghese Tinted Lip Plumper in Flamingo Gold - I always carry this lip plumper with me. It's non-sticky, has a refreshing tingling sensation and keeps my lips hydrated, smooth and full. It's the everyday lip plumper and gloss! Retail: $31.50.

Topricin Foot Therapy Cream - For the most part I was either wearing hiking sneakers or flip flops during my trip, but I did bring a pair of heels with me to wear to dinner or a night out in Vegas. I was told it is a good idea to apply the foot cream before and after putting on my heels and it worked its magic! I noticed I didn't get any foot cramps when I applied the cream. One night I forgot to apply it beforehand, and after I got foot cramps it immediately went away once I applied it. I was so glad I brought some travel size samples with me! Retail: $19.99.

WooLoot Wave Sport Watch - I highly recommend this watch for outdoor activities and sports. The soft feel natural rubber watch has an LCD screen and is water resistant 3 atm and ultralight at 10g. It comes in multiple colors (I have a green one) in various sizes (I have an XS, which is suitable for teens and petite women) and stretches to go over the hand. It was perfect to wear while hiking! Retail: $19.99.

Youth Tagori™ in Grill/Chili color - I had to buy a pair of hiking shoes, and it wasn't easy for shopping for a size 5. I was at Sports Authority and decided to go with a children's shoe size 3 (which is equivalent to a women's size 5). I absolutely loved the Columbia Sportswear pair I found. I like the lace-and-lock system for a secure fit and the nonmarking Omni-Grip® outsoles deliver a solid foundation for the foot. I love the design as well as the trail-specific tread. It was so easy to hike and hold my balance with these shoes on - the grip is amazing! Retail: $40.

- Kim Weling

Dermalogica UltraCalming™ Launch

Left to right: UltraCalming™ Cleanser, UltraCalming™ Mist, UltraCalming™ Serum Concentrate, UltraCalming™ Barrier Repair and UltraCalming™ Relief Masque

On May 19th, I attended the launch of Dermalogica’s Ultracalming™ system at the Soho store at 110 Grand Street. The Ultracalming™ system, which launched this month, helps manage the multiple causes behind sensitive, inflamed skin, which can stem from genetic predisposition towards sensitivity or as a result from environmental conditions. Symptoms of sensitive skin can include itching, redness, heat, stinging or dryness. If sensitive skin is left untreated, it can result in permanent cellular damage, which can lead to serious skin conditions and premature aging.

All five UltraCalming™ products consist of:

· Boerhavia Diffusa (Red Hogweed) root extract: Targets neurogenic inflammation by limiting the production of pro-inflammatory agents as well as promoting the production of natural anti-inflammatory agents in the skin.
· Avena Sativa (oat kernel) extracts: Rich inavenanthramides, the activecomponents of the Avena Sativa plant which have been widely studied and proven to have natural anti-irritant and anti-redness properties.
· Zingiber officinate (Ginger) and Bisabolol (derived from Chamomile): Work synergistically to help reduce redness and irritation.

The five products include UltraCalming™ Cleanser, UltraCalming™ Mist, UltraCalming™ Serum Concentrate, UltraCalming™ Barrier Repair and UltraCalming™ Relief Masque.

I found the best way to learn about the line was to try it out for myself with a mini facial. It’s been too long since my last facial, but I was not told anything I already didn’t know - I have normal, healthy skin, except for the lack of hydration. So this line is not something I would need to use on a regular basis. This line would be good to incorporate when I have skin irritations that randomly pop up, mainly due to stress, lack of sleep or poor diet. Or I can incorporate some of the products into my skincare routine, but no need to use all of them.

The mini facial was so refreshing – I loved all the products that were used. My recommended products and samples consisted of the Special Cleansing Gel, Sheer Moisture SPF 15, Skin Smoothing Cream, Daily Resurfacer, Intensive Eye Repair and MultiVitamin Power Firm. Can’t wait to try them out! Check out the line at dermalogica.com.

- Kim Weling

Gen Art's "The New Garde" Launch Party at Dermalogica

Daniel Feld and Wesley Nault of WesFeld


Chrissie Miller and Madeleine Von Froomer of Sophomore

On February 3rd, I attended Gen Art's The New Garde launch party at the Grand Street Dermalogica store. The launch was in celebration of the four designers featured in the upcoming Plastics Make it PossibleSM Fashion Week Show, including GAR-DE, NOMA, Sophomore and WesFeld.

The party was packed, while attendees enjoyed complimentary drinks, hors d'oeuvres, Dermalogica MicroZone skin treatments and Face Mapping skin analysis.

I love Dermalogica skincare! I didn't get to try one of the treatments but I did receive an invitation to choose one of the 20 minute treatments in the gift bag, so I'll definitely be back. Attendees also received a Dermalogica stress relief candle and skin rescue set including a travel-size microfoliant, hydrating masque, toner, hydrating booster and eye cream.

- Kim Weling