The Queen of Style

Does the L’Oreal REVITALIFT™ Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Skin Care Regimen Really Work? Or Is it an Anti-Aging Dream?

As a beauty editor, I’ve tried hundreds of anti-aging skin care products. Does L’Oreal REVITALIFT™ Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Skin Care live up its promises? 
-PJ Gach 
This article is sponsored for L’Oreal/Conde Nast.
About two weeks into my month-long beauty product road test of L’Oreal’s REVITALIFT™ Anti-Wrinkle and Firming skin care products, skin care expert and editor, Candice Sabatini of BeautyNewsNYC.com told me that my skin “Looked like velvet.” That’s high praise from a knowledgeable and eagle-eyed skin care fanatic.
As a beauty editor and reporter I have tried hundreds of skin care products that promised to stop time. Some smelled like fermented socks—I am not kidding-I had to hold my breath to put it on my face, some smelled amazing; neither of them did anything. So, I was curious and yes,  a bit skeptical when offered the chance to try out of L’Oreal’s REVITALIFT™ Anti-Wrinkle and Firming skin care products, namely the Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Cream SPF 18, Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream, and the Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream. In interest of science (and looking good), I decided to give them a four week whirl.

Now my skin is in pretty good condition. Whilst I may not always remember to slather on sunscreen, I do wear sunnies, hats and look for foundations that have an SPF built in. I drink a ton of water every day and, with the exception of occasionally binging on licorice and pop tarts (not at the same time), eat healthily.  However, I am going to fight aging tooth and nail. I like the way I look now and if there was a way to keep this look, I am going to do my best.

Since I didn’t get my products until late afternoon, I decided to kick it off with the Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream and the Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream before I toddled off to bed. Applying the night cream, I noticed a slight burning sensation, more than likely from the retinol. The eye cream, I slowly dotted around my eyes and kept tapping it until it sunk into my skin. Both products have a clean “non- smell”scent.  My skin drank in the moisture.

In the morning, I used the eye cream and the Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Cream SPF 18.  As I was applying the day cream to my face, I remember thinking that I was glad there was an SPF built in because I’m too rushed (read lazy) to add more products to my skin care regimen.

I spread both the day and the night cream on my neck as well as my face.  The last thing I want is my jawline and my neck to fall down to my belly button.

It wasn’t until halfway through road testing the products that I felt that same slight, light burning sensation on my face when I applied the night cream.

I do have sensitive skin, so that may have been why I felt that. And having sensitive skin, I can break out if you look at me funny. Not once in the four weeks did my skin break out, or develop (horrors) a rash.

What exactly is the Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Cream SPF 18?  It fights against the signs of aging. L’Oreal states that it is “A unique daily moisturizer with broad spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 18 sunscreen protection delivers smoother, firmer skin in just 4 weeks. Fortified with Pro-Retinol A and Stimuplex, Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming works to increase cell turnover, reduce wrinkles, firm skin, and provide 24-hour hydration.” The eye cream, which I mentioned earlier, sinks into your skin so easily and it fights the dreaded morning puffy eye syndrome and, yes, I’m going to quote L’Oreal again, “360-degree action around the eyes for smoother, firmer skin in just 4 weeks. This unique daily moisturizer delivers anti-wrinkle and firming action, created specially to care for the delicate area around the eyes. Experience advanced action against the signs of aging. RevitaLift® Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream (with Pro-Retinol A and Stimuplex) reduces wrinkles and firms skin.” The night cream does all the hard stuff while you sleep! It provides 24 hour moisture while it reduces wrinkles and firms up your skin.

To be honest, it’s really hard to see the changes in your skin over time. You look in the mirror, see yourself but you don’t see the bad or the good changes. So I made my friends take photos of me. There’s the before, the two week mark, and after four weeks of usage.
From left to right: Before, second week using the products and after four weeks. And I would like to point out that the after photo is of me without any makeup on. You can see that after using this for a month, my skin looks really terrific!

Want to try this for yourself? Head on over to the new L’Oreal Skin Expert website,  and get your own recommendation that’s customized for your own skin care regimen.

I know I haven’t discussed price. Are you sitting down? Yes? Good. The line is affordable. I mean, really affordable! After all,  you're dealing with L’Oreal Paris, the skin experts! Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Day Cream SPF 18 is $17.99, Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Night Cream is $17.99, and the Revitalift™ Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Eye Cream is $17.99.  Now there’s no excuse to take care of your skin, look and feel great. You’re sooo worth it!

Feel like tweeting your questions or comments to me? Don't forget to use the hashtag #AskSkinExpert and @LOrealUSA and @CNSway

Sushi Seki Opens Bar Seki: A Restaurant within a Restaurant in NYC’s Theatre District

Sushi Seki’s Bar Seki offers handcrafted cocktails and it’s a delicious hit. 
-PJ Gach
New Yorkers take their food and drink very seriously. When Sushi Seki announced that they would be opening their third resto in the Theatre District, there was much rejoicing in the city. Sushi Seki is a  bi-level restaurant that has a bar within—Bar Seki.  The cocktails are Bar Seki may just be more of a draw than the incredible food that Sushi Seki  serves up.
From the moment Sushi Seki  opened its first resto on the Upper East Side, quickly became a dining destination due to the high quality eats. Chef Seki whose fans include Gordon Ramsay, Eric Ripert, Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Daniel Boulud (nice crowd!) creates sushi with a witty, unique twist that marries traditional sushi sensibilities with the daring of contemporary cuisine. The chef de cuisine is Edward Wijaya , he described the cuisine to the pre-opening diners as "Japanese ingredients, fancy techniques, and New American style." For example their Bloody Mary is created with gazpacho vodka, clamato, yuzo kosho and amazo vinegar and the Gyu-Tan is comprised of beef tongue, ginger, garlic, purslane and fennel.

Read The Harvest Martini & More Vodka Cocktails to Try Now!
To eat or drink here is real dining experience. Imagine sipping their Sakura cocktail (Janmai sake, unmeshu, peach, champagne vinegar and Sakura brine (smells heavenly)from a square wooden vessel.  Cocktail consultant and globally award winning mixologist Shingo Gokan has let his imagination and taste buds roam, creating gorgeous tasting and beautiful to gaze upon cocktails. 

As mentioned before, this Sushi Seki outpost has two levels. On the first, there’s a long blond bar that faces a wall of sake—not a bad view. Walking towards the back, a giant communal table takes center stage in the dining area that seats 80. No matter where you sit, you can watch the chefs work in the open kitchen.
Each item on the menu, either food like the above sushi and octopus salad, or the Yuzu cocktail with shochu mizu no mai, shisho yuzu honey, and yukari salt, or the Umi cocktail (more of a shooter) made with mescal, dashi tomato water, oyster and uni is flavorful work of art. 

 Sushi Seki/Bar Seki, 365 West 46th St., 212-262-8880

Cocktail menu Menu

 

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Support Vegan, All-Natural Marie Ernst Beauty Bars on Kickstarter

Based in Oregon, Marie Ernst Beauty Bars are super gentle soaps that exfoliate and moisturize at the same time.
-PJ Gach

Kickstarter is loaded with up-and-coming beauty brands; each clamoring for your dollar. Swing by the site and check out Marie Ernst Beauty Bars. They're a luxury soap company based in Portland, Oregon. Marie Ernst soaps are two soaps in one: Containing  15 % natural pumice, the soap exfoliates your skin. The soap also contains essential oils and moisturizers; so after the pore clogging dead skin is removed, your skin is immediately moisturized.
The soaps have been mentioned in Radaronline, OK!, Beauty Style Watch and A Mother Thing. The company can count RHOC Gretchen Rossi as a big fan.

Read How to Recreate Saoirse Ronan's Red Carpet Hairstyle at Home

Each bar is vegan, paraben-free, phthalate-free, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and all natural!
Click on this link to help them reach their goal.  

Below is their list of soaps.

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Dove Advanced Hair Series Oxygen Moisture Collection Makes Fine Hair Fuller Looking & Healthier too!

Fine, limp hair can make you feel anxious; get a head of healthy looking hair with lots of volume from Dove.
-PJ Gach
When you're having a bad hair day, it effects every aspect of your day. According to Dove and behavioral investigator and body language expert, Vanessa Van Edwards, 60% of communication is nonverbal. When you're fussing with your hair, whether or not you realize it, you come across less self-confident than you really are. Who needs that!

And if you're in the 99% of women with flat hair who spend a lot of time on hair tricks to make your hair seem fuller and well, livelier: hair flipping, teasing, and tying your hair up, it's (a) not healthy for your hair and (b) can make you seem less confident. If you're flipping your hair at the wrong time or with the wrong person, you could come across as not ready for a promotion or interested in someone that you're not.

Dove Advanced Hair Series Oxygen Moisture Collection: Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner,  Dove Oxygen Moisture Leave In Foam, and Dove Oxygen Moisture Root Lift Spray are formulated for women with fine, limp, flat hair. Dove has found that women who used the new Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner had 95% more body and fullness after their first use. For all fabulous volume all day long, follow up with the Dove Oxygen Moisture Leave In Foam and the Dove Oxygen Moisture Root Lift--which you can use on wet and dry hair.

It's the science behind the scent and suds. Dove Oxygen Moisture has Oxyfusion Technology. This ingredient delivers moisture and volume (at the same time) to hair, leaving it bouncy, lots of volume, and healthy looking.

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The shampoo and conditioner are MSRP $4.99 each, and the Dove Oxygen Moisture Leave In Foam and Dove Oxygen Moisture Root Lift are MSRP $5.99.

Now you can stop worrying about your hair, and start concentrating on taking over the corner office.

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How to Recreate Saoirse Ronan's Red Carpet Hairstyle at Home

Big date coming up? Copy Saorise Ronan's romantic updo! Here's how to do it.
-PJGach

This past Wednesday in New York City, Saoirse Ronan trod the red carpet for the premiere of her latest film, Brooklyn. The movie is set in 1950s Brooklyn and Ireland. Her costars are Jim Broadbent, Emory Cohen, and  Julie Waters.

For the premiere Saoirse wore a pretty pleated floral and leather dress with coral and green earrings. Her hair was in a textured updo created by celebrity hairstylist, Adir Abergel using Leonor Greyl products.

Adir stated in a press release, “Soft and hard were the two elements of her dress: the softness of the lace and the harder textures of the leather. I mimicked an ethereal feel with some edge by adding a golden metal flower headband to the back of the head with the soft textured hair.”

Adir wanted the look to have a dry texture, so he began by applying Leonor Greyl Mousse Au Lotus Volumatrice to the roots and through the mid shaft. To create maximum volume, he diffused the hair until it was 100 percent dry.

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 “Once the hair was completely dry, I took a ¾ inch iron and curled the hair into a soft wave by tugging on the curl while it was still hot to relax it,” he explains. “To make it look natural, I left the ends out.”

Adir gave the look separation by using Leonor Greyl Eclat Naturel Styling Cream, applying a dime-sized amount to his hands, rubbing them together as if applying hand cream, and then running it through the hair. Next, he sprayed Leonor Greyl Laque Souple Styling Spray to lock in the wave and for a romantic, undone appearance.

 “After hand raking it back, keeping lots of volume at the roots and the crown, I twisted the hair into a half French twist. I pinned the half-twist into place, and then I took the flower headband and put the headband under the French twist, just above the nape. Whatever hair was left underneath, I twisted and then pinned into place with a few bobby pins, so it became a ponytail at the bottom. Then I took a few of those hairs to cover half of the headband so it wasn’t completely exposed.”

 For the finishing touch, Adir spritzed Leonor Greyl Laque Souple Styling Spray to keep everything in place. “It gave the look a bit more grit,” he says. “All the texture was a perfect juxtaposition against the duality of the softness and the hardness.”

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Would You Sling the "Titty Tote" Over Your Shoulders?

Filthy Gorgeous Media's selling the Titty Tote--Gonna add it to your collection?
-PJ Gach
Whilst claiming the new Titty Tote is part of the "Free the Nipple" campaign and is eco-friendly to boot, Filthy Gorgeous Media, the company producing the bag claims its a "Progressive Tote Bag." I'm sorry, but WTF is a "Progressive Tote Bag?"

Is it a bag that looks like a costume that Miley Cyrus would wear walking her dogs? Is it a device to attract creepers? Or, is it something that my mom would call "tacky."

According to the press release that came along with this stunning piece of art (not), the bag, "The Titty Tote serves three important purposes for womankind: it empowers women and promotes equality worldwide, assists in cutting down on antiquated plastic bags, and promotes breast cancer awareness and research. A portion of all Titty Tote revenue will be donated to breast cancer awareness and research foundations on a quarterly basis."

Read  Breaking News: Nick Gordon May be Charged with Murder

I don't know about you, but I've always wondered where exactly does all the money raised from BCA go? I mean, most of the percentages are so small, I think the dollars go back into overhead. Because, when you think of it, there's been a lot, and I mean a lot of fundraising over the years for breast cancer research. You'd think by now, there'd be more progress. Just a thought.

Now, getting back to this lovely tote bag. Could you imagine waiting for the bus with this slung over your shoulder? Yes, no, maybe? If you're on the fence about it, then hold on! Because Filthy Gorgeous Media is promising that there's another product  that might tickle your fancy! Yes! You see the Titty Tote is part of a trilogy of products! Back in August they released the "Pussy Pillow; "a mashup of naked women and cats(Why? Seriously, why?), then in September came the "Close Shave Pussy Pillow," I'm not sure I want to know what that looks like.

So, is this a product that's, ahem, "freeing," or just tacky tat? 

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BREAKING NEWS: Nick Gordon May be Charged with Murder

The Georgia D. A is convening a grand jury to possibly bring charges against Nick Gordon for Bobbi Kristina's death.
-PJ Gach
Things are happening quickly in Georgia for Nick Gordon, Bobbi Kristina Brown's ex. A source told Radaronline.com exclusively earlier tonight that, "The District Attorney is convening a secret grand jury and it’s likely to result in charges against Nick Gordon." Nick is currently facing a multi-million dollar wrongful death suit brought against him by her relatives.

Gordon's attorney, Jose Baez and Gordon himself are watching the developments very closely.  The source also  told Radaronline.com, "“It’s likely the other people in the house the morning she was found unresponsive will be called to testify. But it doesn’t appear that Nick will be called because the D.A. doesn’t want to give away their hand in preparation of a possible trial.” 

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The other two witnesses who were in the house when Bobbi Kristina was found unresponsive in her bathtub were Max  Lomas and Daneyla Bradley. Lomas was friends with  Gordon and Bradley was Lomas's girlfriend at the time.

According to Radaronline, Baez and Gordon are currently in Florida. How this drama will play out is anyone's guess. Gordon has fervently announced his innocence, whilst singer Bobby Brown, Bobbi Kristina's father and her relatives firmly believe that he is guilty.

photo credit

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Hot Fall Fashion 2015 Trend: 18 Capes for Every Budget

Capes are one of Fall’s big fashion trends, are you ready to get romantic with your outerwear? 
-PJ Gach
Maybe it’s because I watched a lot of old movies as a child, but I fell in love with capes. Watching heroines donning capes in movies that took place anywhere from the 1700s (long velvet capes with hoods that swept the ground) to the swinging 60s (cheeky capes that scraped the thigh), I always wanted one or three. As an adult, I’ve scoured thrift stores and found a few, like the one in the top photo.

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Capes starting wafting their way back into fashion in 2009. That fall, they were a big thing in the UK, but stalled coming across the ocean. J. Mendel showed a mink one for fall, Michael Kors had a wool cape with jet embroidery walk down his fall runway show, Pucci, Rebecca Minkoff and Tommy Hilfiger showed them for fall too. Now, you can’t turn around without seeing a cape, capelet or cape and jacket combo in a store window. They can be found in a variety of fabrics; everything from suede to heavy wool. And yes, in every price point.

Want to wear a cape? Keep outerwear accessories to a minimum. They’ll either get lost or tangled in the fabric. Planning on wearing capes when it’s really chilly outside? Invest in a thick scarf, long insulated gloves and a bag that really is a handbag. Trust me, you can’t carry anything over your shoulder in a cape. I’ve tried it. It. Doesn’t. Work.

Here are some fab fall capes to twirl around in, there’s a couple under $10, and one you can rent!

1. See by Chloe ribbed knit cape cardigan ($400.36, Far Fetch). Instead of grabbing a blazer, grab this chic alternative instead. 

2. Fashionable stand collar cape ($22.54, Rosegal). Shiny silver double-breasted buttons gives this cape military appeal.

 3. Desigual cape ($153, Yoox). Get your Boho on with this hooded fringe trim cape.

More capes after the jump

October 4 Is National Vodka Day! Hooray! Have a Vodka Cocktail and Celebrate!

Don’t you love it when a holiday’s on the weekend! Raise your glass to National Vodka Day. 
-PJ Gach
Vodka’s one of the spirits that works with every season. No matter what the occasion, you can always find a suitable vodka based cocktail for the celebration. Sunday’s National Vodka Day, so you can have a longish boozy lunch (if you’d like) and try out one of these  vodka cocktails.

 Read 5 Tasty Fall Themed Cocktails to Try Now!

And you can always find a cocktail for life’s milestones. For instance , fall heralds a lot of breakups—Amanda Seyfried just broke up with Justin Long, so you might want to serve her (or him) the Therapist Cocktail (recipe below). And if you’ve gone apple picking, then you’ll definitely want to try the Apple Cider Bellini or the Chopin Harvest Martini.  Oh, and if you’ve just kicked off a new relationship, salute it with the Naked Embrace or the Flame of Love. 

See, vodka gives you so many tasty choices to imbibe! Read on for all the recipes.

Naked Embrace 
Created by Niccole Trzaska, The Liberty NYC
Ingredients: 
1 ½ parts Ménage a Trois Straight Vodka  
¼ part fresh lime juice
1 ¼ parts lavender tonic 
Directions: 
Combine all ingredients over ice and stir; garnish with a lime wedge.

Cîroc Lola
Ingredients: 
1.5 oz. CÎROC® Vodka 
1.5 oz. pomegranate juice 
.25 oz. elderflower liqueur 
Top with .25 oz. champagne
Directions: 
 Stir all ingredients over ice to chill and strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass. Top with champagne.
Glassware: Highball 
Garnish: Orchid

 Apple Cider Bellini and more cocktail recipes after the jump