SK-II Pop Up Studios in New York City & San Francisco

This spring, SK-II (P&G Prestige's luxury skincare line) Pop Up Studios will be open to the public in both New York City and San Francisco from April 4th through May 23rd, 2014, featuring its new, state-of-the-art skin analysis tool, the Beauty Imaging System™. 

To celebrate the launch, I was able to preview the SK-II NYC pop up on April 3rd with a 1:1 skin consultation with the Beauty Imaging System™, along with presentations from celebrity makeup artist, Dotti, and celebrity nutritionist, Dr. Oz Garcia. 

I'm also excited to be participating in a 'Facial SKan program', where I'll be using SK-II products recommended during my skin consultation. I'm starting my new SK-II skin regimen tonight, and after 4 weeks I'll revisit the Beauty Imaging System™ at the pop up to see how my skin has improved. I can't wait to share my SK-II experience next month!

If you have a chance to visit the SK-II Pop Up Studios, and get a skin consultation with the Beauty Imaging System™, you'll find that this innovative device will predict the skin's visible age to help determine a SK-II product ritual designed exclusively for your skin concerns. It captures close-up images of the face using a digital camera and then analyzes the images based on the five dimensions of crystal clear, ageless skin: Texture Refinement, Firmness Power, Wrinkle Resilience, Radiance and Tone. 

The SK-II Pop Up Studios also showcases the brand's rich history and 'Secret Key' ingredient, Pitera™, found in all of SK-II products. Pitera™ is an exclusive extract from a unique strain of yeast, produced only in Japan. This singular blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids allow the skin's natural surface rejuvenation process to function at its prime. The hero of the SK-II skincare collection is Facial Treatment Essence, with 90% pure Pitera™in every bottle. 

SK-II Skin Counselors will be on hand at the studios to provide consumers with:

- Information on the brand and products
- Complimentary Beauty Imaging System™ skin consultations
- Interactive product testing
- Takeaway SK-II product samples

SK-II Pop Up Studio Details:

Locations:
New York City
468 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013
Neighborhood: Soho

San Francisco
117 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
Neighborhood: Union Square

Date: 
April 4 - May 23, 2014
Monday-Saturday 10:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday 11:00am to 6:00pm

For more information on SK-II, visit sk-ii.com and the SK-II blog at BeautyUnearthed.com 

Tweet and Instagram along @SKII_US #SKIIPopUp

Celebrity makeup artist Dotti

Dotti took us through a step by step SK-II skin regimen before applying makeup on her model, starting with the Facial Treatment Essence on clean skin, followed by the Essential Power Essence, Essential Power Cream, and Skin Signature Eye Cream. 

Dr. Oz Garcia explained how glycation, inflammation and oxidation accelerate the aging process on the body. He provided some tips on how to offset the aging process: watch your salt/soy intake, avoid sugary snacks and add antioxidants to your diet - blueberries, nuts, fish oils and kale (blocks production of cancer cells), cut down on coffee and sodas and opt for green tea, which is great for your metabolism. Eggs (yolk included), yogurt and probiotics are great breakfast foods. I also learned that I don't have to worry about eating too much sushi - I can eat it as often as I'd like! Since I'm anemic, Dr. Oz Garcia also recommended taking chewable B-12 vitamins, and eating foods rich in iron such as kale and red meat (the closer it's cooked to rare the better, as it's not really effective overcooked, so medium rare/rare is fine).  

Thank you to the SK-II team, Dotti and Dr. Oz Garcia for a lovely afternoon at the SK-II Pop Up Studios. Look forward to my follow-up visit in a month! 

- Kim Weling

Recap: The Village Voice's "Choice Eats" 7th Annual Tasting Event

The Village Voice's "Choice Eats" 7th annual tasting event took place on March 25th at Basketball City at Pier 36, from 7-10pm, and a VIP-only hour from 6-7pm. The last time I went to "Choice Eats" was back in 2011, and it's only gotten bigger and better, with more participating restaurants and amazing foods to taste. 

The final lineup included 84 participating restaurants including 606 R&D, Alobar, Ample Hills Creamery, Anella, Bear, Banana Leaf, Beecher's Handmade Cheese, Bhatti Indian Grill, Bien Cuit, Black Tree, Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter, Brooklyn Kolache Co., Buka, Bunker, Butter & Scotch, Carlo's Bakery, Chandni, Charles' Country Pan Fried Chicken, Clark's Standard, Coppelia, Deccan Spice, Devi, Dirt Candy, Distilled, Doughnut Plant, Edi and the Wolf, Egg, El Almacen, Fay Da Bakery, Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue, Fonda, Grandaisy Bakery, Indian Clove, Jimmy's No. 43, John Brown Smokehouse, Jacob's Pickles, Jones Wood Foundry, Juliette Restaurant, Kaia Wine Bar, Khe Yo, Kuma Inn, La Newyorkina, La Slowteria, Larb Ubol, Liddabit Sweets, Little Prince, Littleneck, Louro, Luke's Lobster, Mables Smokehouse, Mai Sushi, Maima's Liberian Bistro, Martha, Max, Mexico Lindo, Mooncake Foods, Morgan's Brooklyn Barbecue, Mrs. Dorsey's Kitchen, No. 7, Oda House, OddFellows Ice Cream Co., Ovelia Psistaria, Ovenly, Peppa's Jerk Chicken, Pete Zaaz, Pickle Shack, Queens Comfort, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Robicelli's, Rosamunde Sausage Grill, Rubirosa, SCRATCHbread, Sheep Station, Spicy Bampa, Swine, Tabata Noodle Restaurant, Telepan Local, The Kati Roll Company, The Meatball Shop, The Pines, Thistle Hill Tavern, Xe May Sandwich Shop, Yunnan Kitchen, Zenon Taverna, and many more.

Sponsors included Stella Artois, Great Brewers, Southern Wine & Spirits, Whole Foods Market, Disney NEWSIES on Broadway, Diamond Vision, Asahi Beer USA, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Blueprint Brands, Asahi Beer, Verizon FIOS, Alphabet City Brewing Company, Blue Point Brewing Company, Brewery Ommegang, Crabbies Original Alcoholic Ginger Beer, Lagunitas Brewing Company, MOA Brewing Co., Oskar Blues Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Singha Beer, Sixpoint Brewery, Smuttynose Brewing Company, Black Dirt Distillery, Catoctin Creek, Dulce Vida Organic Tequila, New Holland Brewing, Rogue Spirits, Suerte Tequila, Virginia Distillery Company, Woody Creek Distillers, SingleCut Beer, Four Roses Bourbon, Ste Michelle Wine Estates, Sidney Frank Importing Inc., Tito's Handmade Vodka, Cabot Creamery, Flat Rate Moving, Green Mountain Energy, Hailo Cab, White Pike Whiskey, City Tech, Frames and Hot 97.

Congratulations to the winner of this year's "Choice Eats" Fan Favorite Voting Contest - Fletcher's Brooklyn Barbecue! I didn't get around to trying their dish, but I'm sure it was amazing! 

Here's a look at some of my favorite participating restaurants from the VIP Happy Hour. This was actually my favorite part of the tasting, as it was laid back without any long lines or crowds. 

La Slowteria: El Cotorroguava - Salad with Hibiscus Flower Dressing

La Slowteria: El Negrito - Duck in Black Mole

Morgan's Brooklyn Barbecue

Clarke's Standard - Mini Standard Cheeseburgers

Rosamunde Sausage Grill: Grilled Sausage, Beer Sausage, Cheddar Brat and Vegan Apple Sage

Carlo's Bakery: Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carlo's Bakery 

Grandaisy Bakery: Roman-Style Pizzas

Doughnut Plant

Here's a look at the participating sponsors and restaurants on the main floor. A special thanks to Verizon FIOS for introducing me to an Ultimate HD package I couldn't pass up, and for giving me the most practical gift I can ask for add a food tasting - Verizon FIOS tupperware that was perfect for storing some Carlo's Bakery Red Velvet goodies for later. 

Luke's Lobster: Maine Crab Rolls

Louro: Bacon Cornbread with Braised Chorizo

Coppelia: Arepas - Corn Cake, Shredded Chicken, Guacamole, Rocoto Sauce

Martha: Berkshire Pork Ribs with Ginger Glaze Over Jasmine Rice

Robicelli's

Fay Da Bakery: Bubble Tea

Steve's Ice Cream: Burnt Sugar Vanilla

Steve's Ice Cream: Cranberry Cinnamon Marshmallow

My favorite dish of the night was Ample Hills Salted Crack Caramel Ice Cream with Crack Cookies. I rarely trek over to Brooklyn but now I'm going to have to and pick up a few pints of that ice cream flavor! 

Ample Hills Creamery: Salted Crack Caramel Ice Cream with Crack Cookies and Gather 'Round the Campfire Ice Cream - Toasted Marshmalllow Ice Cream with Chocolate-Covered Graham Cracker

Liddabit Sweets

The Village Voice's "Choice Eats" was an amazing success! Next up is The Village Voice's 3rd annual "Choice Streets" food truck tasting set for May 7th on the Intrepid. For details and to purchase tickets, go to villagevoice.com/choicestreets.

- Kim Weling

Island Company & Letarte Sample Sale

ISLAND COMPANY & LETARTE SAMPLE SALE

ENJOY UP TO 75% OFF RETAIL TO KICK OFF THE SUMMER SEASON!

APRIL 1ST – APRIL 6TH

TUESDAY – SATURDAY: 9AM–7PM

SUNDAY: 9AM–3PM

225 FIFTH AVENUE

BETWEEN 26TH AND 27TH ST

NEW YORK, NY 10010

*ALL CREDIT CARDS & CASH ACCEPTED


ISLAND COMPANY: Candy Stripe Shirt Dress
MSRP $145
Sale Price $40

ISLAND COMPANY

Storm Linen Pilot Shirt MSRP $145 / Sale Price $40

Indo Swim Trunks MSRP $95 / Sale Price $30

LETARTE: Long Sleeve Tie Front Tunic

MSRP $238

Sale Price $60

Updated: Rent the Runway Sample Sale

So I checked out the Rent the Runway Sample Sale today around 1pm, and it was a zoo! The craziest I've ever seen it. Shoppers were polite but it was way to crowded not to get poked by passing hangers or elbows. The dressing room line even extended from the back all the way to the front of the store. Definitely not a good idea to come to this sale during your lunch break. I've been going to this sample sale since Rent the Runway starting holding it seasons ago. This was the worst assortment I've seen, unless what I usually get was all long gone. No Helmut Lang or Yumi Kim dresses for me to snatch up, and instead of seeing most dresses under $100 last season, most seemed to be over $100. 

There was only one dress I really liked, the Parker Blanche Sheath ($425), which was on the sale for $108. It wasn't worth it to me considering the zipper was broken. I wasn't going to stand in the dressing room line to just try on one dress, so a few of us started a little 'changing nook' over by the XS racks racks. One shopper helped me get out of the Parker dress when the zipper got stuck. 

Maybe it will calm down later in the week but by then all the dresses will be picked over. I usually end up finding different dresses when I come back multiple days during the sale, but with the craziness I experienced today, I may opt to not come back and give my wallet a rest from sample sales this week. 

I think it's time for Rent the Runway to create a Friends & Family sale day. This was one of my favorite sales but now that everyone knows about it, be prepared for long lines, pushing your way through, and a disappointing selection as dresses quickly move off the racks and out the door.

- Kim Weling

IT Cosmetics Spring 2014 Preview and Beauty Must-Haves

I recently enjoyed brunch with fellow beauty editors at Serafina, as we learned about the newest, innovative beauty products from IT Cosmetics Spring 2014. This is the first time I'm really trying several different IT Cosmetics products, and I'm just in awe at how unique their products really are. 

Here's a round-up of new IT Cosmetics beauty products I previewed during the brunch:

Feel The Moment™ Anti-Aging Ultra Hydrating Sensory Awakening Primer Serum ($38): Another amazing product that can be used before or after a moisturizer and before applying makeup, for perfectly poreless, ultra-hydrated, airbrushed skin. This primer serum can also be worn over your daily moisturizer or after applying a night cream for maximum results.  With essential oils, it really does feel like a soothing spa experience in a bottle. Caviar Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides and Silk all work to nourish, hydrate, prep and prime the skin, whule Vitamins A, C & E, Deep Ocean Water, Argan, Jojoba and Avocado Oil infusions leave the skin soft and younger looking.

Your Skin, But Better™ CC+ Cream + Anti-Aging Hydrating Serum + SPF 50+ UVA/UVB Physical Only Sunscreen ($38): I use this CC+ Full Coverage Cream in place of foundation, and love that it increases hydration in my skin, has a SPF 50+ non-chemical sunscreen and anti-aging Peptides, Niacin, Algae, Vitamins A, C, B, E, Hyaluronic Acid and Hydrolyzed Collagen as well as antioxidants and natural botanicals. The CC+ Full Coverage Cream is available in five shades - Fair, Light, Medium, Tan and Rich. The Medium blends in perfectly for me!

Eyelift in a Tube™ Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer / Hello Light™ Liquid Brightener ($29): The IT Cosmetics product I've been most familiar with is the Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer so I was super excited to see this combined a luminizer. I definitely need 8 hours of sleep in a tube, since I actually usually get half that amount and concealing dark circles and tired eyes are main concerns of mine. Eyelift In A Tube is formulated with Hydrolyzed Collagen, Peptides, Niacin, Antioxidants and Drops of Light Technology™ for a flawless radiant complexion. This is one product I can't live without. Bye Bye Under Eye is available in 4 Shades - Light, Neutral Medium, Tan and Rich while Hello Light™ Liquid Brightener comes in 2 shades - Medium and Deep. The Neutral Medium/Medium combo is perfect for me. 

Celebration Foundation™ Illumination Full-Coverage Anti-Aging Illuminating Foundation ($35): This pressed powder is best applied with the Heavenly Luxe™ Double Airbrush Foundation Brush, sweeping skin lightly with a circular motion. My T-Zone usually gets oily as the day progresses so I like to start the day with the CC+ Coverage Cream and use this pressed powder foundation for touchups. It's formulated with high quality ingredients that leave skin fresh and hydrated and never dry or cakey. Available in Fair, Light, Medium, Tan and Rich. 

Naturally Pretty Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette ($42): This beautiful palette contains 14 matte eye shadows that can take you from day to night. I love how the Transforming Pearl shade turns matte shades into softly pearlized ones, by dipping your brush into a matte shade and then tapping it into the Transforming Pearl shade. This is such a versatile palette - it can be applied wet or dry, worn alone or mixed and also doubles as eye liners. These eye shadows also include anti-aging ingredients including Peptides, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Acai, Green Tea, Silk and Antioxidants. 

No-Tug™ Heavenly Luxe Dual Shadow Brush ($24): IT Cosmetics make-up brushes are just beautiful and extremely soft. This shadow, crease and smudge liner brush create an airbrushed look. The large flat side is used for applying all over shadow and lid application. To use as a "no-tug™" crease brush, just turn the large end sideways using back-and-forth windshield wiper motions. The smaller smudge brush is used for below your lash line 

Liner Love™ Waterproof Anti-Aging Crème Gel Eyeliner with No-Tug® Technology and Lash Enhancing Peptide Serum ($24): This crème gel glides on smoothly and effortlessly. It's easy to apply the gel eyeliner along the upper, lower or inner lash line, from a natural line to a smudging smokey eye, when using the Heavenly Luxe® Ten-in-One Tightliner™ Brush. 

Tightliner™ 10-in-1 Dual-Ended Brush ($24): This is by far my favorite brush, with a Tightlining End and a Bent Liner End. Makes applying eyeliner easy, with a precise, firm, even stroke. This brush duo also comes with a cheat sheet on how to create 10 looks - naturally defined, elongated eye, winged tip, wrap around smudging, cat-eye, bottom lined, inner rim wide eyed, top line definition, double-winged top & bottom and smoky eye. 

Waterproof Tightline Full Lash Line & Length Black Mascara Primer with Peptides, Collagen, Proteins, Biotin, Nettle Extract, Green Tea and Jojoba ($24): The skinny wand makes it easy to allows you to coat the root of your lashes, by holding the wand horizontally and then wiggling and sweeping to the tips, adding additional coats for a more dramatic look. To achieve more of a visible eyeliner effect, I press the wand along the root of my lashes to fill the gaps in between my lashes and move along the entire upper lash line for a Tightline eyeliner effect. This multi-tasking product provides the ultimate length, volume and definition, filling in any sparse spots. The skinny wand allows the conditioning serum to infuse a blend of lash-enhancing ingredients including Peptides, Collagen, Proteins, Biotin, Nettle Extract, Green Tea, Jojoba, Rose and Vitamins. Available in Black. 

CC+™ Liquid Lip Serum Hydrating Anti-Aging Color Correcting Crème Gloss ($24): If it's one product I make sure I am always carrying in my bag now, it's this one! I can't say I've ever owned a beauty product such as this one - a plush and super hydrating serum with radiant color (available in one shade - Love). It acts as a serum but goes on like a gloss, without being sticky, runny or cakey. I've been using this daily and the color correcting rich pigment minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and it really does add shine and keeps my lips hydrated. Ingredients include 9 essential oils and butters such as plum oil, cherry oil, shea butter, avocado oil, argan oil, and jojoba plus collagen, peptides and hyaluronic acid. 

Vitality Lip Blush™ Hydrating Gloss Stain ($24): This gloss stain glides on like a lightweight serum, similar to the CC+™ Liquid Lip Serum Hydrating Anti-Aging Color Correcting Crème Gloss, complete with anti-aging oxidants. Available in 6 shades. I love both the Naturally Flushed and Sweet Rose shades. They had just the right amount of color to my lips and perfect for day or night.

I'm really excited to add IT Cosmetics full-coverage anti-aging products to my makeup routine. It is interesting to note that many of IT Cosmetics products are developed with leading plastic surgeons, with products that are the first of its kind. IT Cosmetics is available at ITCosmetics.com, ULTA Beauty stores, ULTA.com. You can also find select products at QVC and QVC.com and The Shopping Channel & theshoppingchannel.com in Canada. 

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes at Serafina

- Kim Weling

Peter Som for DesigNation Exclusively at Kohl's

Peter Som for DesigNation exclusively at Kohl's features chic, affordable pieces all under $100 for Spring 2014, perfect for the office, an upcoming vacation or brunch with friends. Key pieces include the tank maxi dress ($78), jumpsuit ($88), moto jacket ($78), elastic cuff pants ($48) and a button-down shirt dress ($74). The collection, inspired by St. Barths, evoke the culture and the bliss of island life in a palette of antique white, indigo, fiery red, dynamic stripes and prints. 

 Peter Som for DesigNation exclusively at Kohl's launches in store and online at kohls.com on April 10th, with sizes starting at 0/XXS and prices ranging from $38 to $88.

- Kim Weling