Karen's Body Beautiful: Chic Grows in Brooklyn



Karen Tappin-Saunderson, owner of Karen's Body Beautiful, has a message for those who still wonder -- Yes, natural can be and is sleek, chic and beautiful! Her brand's new, all-black, minimalist packaging sexily communicates that missive loud and clear.

After spending years hearing a good friend rave about KBB's products, and, for some strange reason, still not indulging myself, I was excited to stop by the retail shop and spa on Myrtle Avenue in the Fabulous Borough of Brooklyn (do you detect some bias?) for Champagne and Cupcakes, the brand's re-launch party. Karen hosted the event, and treated us lucky guests to mini-manicures, consultations and mini-makeovers with the new resident makeup artist and esthetician, head-bobbing sounds courtesy of a live DJ, and of course, the promised champagne and cupcakes.

I roamed around the space, taking in the black-a-fied and geometrically pleasing wall of product (the Virgo in me appreciates such order), the new mani and pedi stations, massage rooms and a curious room fitted with a futuristic-looking hydro-jacuzzi tub that was speaking directly to my tired muscles (what kind of crazy, pleasure-inducing soaking can be had in that thing??!!). Karen had indeed taken it to the next level, and I am looking forward to seeing what is to come. I have since heard tell that a cosmetics line is in the works. Is this true? We can only hope!

The Bottom Line: KBB has upped the ante and that is cause for major celebration among body-loving Brooklynites and Bridge-and-Tunnel folk looking for a hot new spot to stop on by after work for a spa treatment, specialized mani or pedi, or just to pick up some great, time-tested natural products to pamper themselves at home. For those of us living outside of the Planet of Brooklyn or NYC -- we are fortunately just a point and click away from KBB's online store, where we can order smell goods and feel goods galore! My personal faves? The shampoo and conditioner (this conditioner is A-MAZ-ing in my very thick, very curly, and extremely dry hair) in the Egyptian Musk fragrance. Truly heavenly. -Zee

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What are your thoughts on the Brazilian Blowout controversy?



You all know that my undergraduate degree is in Chemistry- and yes, I analyzed the chemical composition of "Lye" and " No-Lye" relaxers as a project for my Analytical Chemistry course. What we found was that the chemicals listed in the ingredients were definitely in the product! And yes, I got an "A"!

So when WWD broke the news about the Brazilian Blowout controversy, I had to know your thoughts! Just in case you haven't heard- "Brazilian Blowout" a professional hair smoothing treatment claimed to be formaldehyde-free, was exposed after an Oregon hairstylist, with the help of Oregon Health & Science University, found between 4.85 percent and 10.6 percent formaldehyde in samples. Not cool - at all!

Let me know your thoughts. Have you had the treatment? If so, how was the process and what were your results? Has your salon now pulled the treatment from their service menu? Do you rely on your hairstylist's product knowledge/expertise before considering a salon treatment? Or, do you do your own research?

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Mischo Beauty Must-Have: Maybelline The Falsies Volum’ Express Mascara



I'll be the first to admit that I'm a little late to join the party with this one, but better late then never- right? This mascara surprised me - I wasn't convinced that I'd be able to use this alone (most times I use a mascara for volume and another for lengthening). But, it's the truth! It lengthened, separated and gave my lashes volume - and I love it. If you don't own a tube, run out and buy one now!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Challenge Update: "A Healthy, Sexy & Beautiful 2010"



So this is my weekly check-in, as promised! I thought I'd share with you a few of the tools/gadgets I use to keep myself motivated and track my progress. They're as follows:

- Virgin HealthMiles Pedometer (perfect for tracking my steps)
- 2 iPods (black & red) (my playlists keep me dancing during my workouts)
- Apple Nike + iPod Sport Kit (tracks my mileage on nikesplus.com)

Now all that I'm missing is a steady workout partner (yes, I still need one!). Anyone interested?

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Hair Rules Salon: The Everlasting Blowout



What could bring more pleasure to a curly girl's heart than a visit to Hair Rules Salon to meet renowned Texture Guru and celebrity hairstylist Anthony Dickey and his supporting cast of merry-making hairstyling magicians? Nothing, that's what!

I had a chance to chat with Dickey about what inspired him to become a self-proclaimed gatekeeper of textured hair, and I got the lowdown on his new line of blow-out products, which take your hair from kinks, curls and waves to straight, no chaser. Could there finally be an effective product to help women celebrate the fun of switching between textures, without the damage of a permanent process? I was on a mission to find out, and was greatly heartened by the answer.

I was put in the masterful hands of resident superstylist Dailey. Needless to say, my favorite treat of the evening was not the Nuvo but the complimentary blowout. Dailey washed my hair with the Daily Cleansing Cream Moisturizing No Suds Shampoo, clarified me with the Aloe Grapefruit Purifying Shampoo and then conditioned with Hair Rules' Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner. My hair was on a magic carpet ride of pure bliss. After adding a deceptively small amount of Blow Out Your Curls serum, she blew out my usually extra curly/extra fluffy mane (with the old skool comb attachment at that--whaaatt??!!) and flat-ironed it to Straightsville. It was pin straight, folks, yet not lifeless. Another wonder!

The Bottom Line: Two thumbs up! The Blow Out Your Curls styling agent kept my frizz-happy locks straight, shiny and looking healthy, even after traipsing through the cold, wet New York City night looking for a great restaurant. My advice-pick the formula appropriate for your hair type, be careful in downpours and around swimming pools, then enjoy blowout longevity like you've never imagined! -Zee

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Mischo Beauty Superstar of the Week: Crystal Wright: Founder, Crystal Wright Live



If you're interested in a career in makeup, hair styling or fashion styling, then you need to check out CrystalWrightLive.com! A former celebrity styling agent for professional makeup, hair and fashion stylists, Crystal is also the author of Crystal Wright's Hair, Makeup & Styling Career Guide which is a self-help book (actually considered an industry "bible") to guide aspiring stylists in developing the tools, skills and professionalism needed behind the scenes in the entertainment, fashion and beauty industries.

Crystal Wright was first brought to my attention after hearing so much positive feedback about her "Build Your Portfolio and Marketing" workshop. And to add to her growing list of accomplishments, she is also the author of 30 Days At 100 Percent: Changing Your Life 30 Days At A Time.

She's clearly driven, focused and most importantly works smart,
and that's why she is this week's "Mischo Beauty Superstar". To learn more about Crystal and her amazing empire, check out her website , Facebook page, and follow her on Twitter. Oh, and be sure to let me know if you've attended any of her workshops or read any of her books. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Mischo Beauty: Zee's Red Door Spas Blow-out!



During Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, my new beauty editor-at-large - yes, please meet Zee! (pictured above) - and I headed over to Robert Verdi's The Future of Fashion Retreat to enjoy a break away from Lincoln Center, as well as complimentary blow-outs by Red Door Spas! And just so you know, her hair is natural (she doesn't chemically straighten it), but she does color it. Her finished look was achieved by blow drying with a round brush and flat ironing. So tell us, what do you think? GORGEOUS! Please join me in welcoming, Zee!








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Mischo Beauty: Clarins Rouge Prodige Lipstick



The newest lipstick launch from Clarins, Rouge Prodige, is their answer to those of you who asked for a long-lasting, high shine formulation. The application is buildable (which I love) and is available in 16 shades from Clarins.com. My favorite of the three shades above (110 Litchi, 113 Mystic Plum & 117 Sunset) was definitely Mystic Plum- a deep, velvety plum red, making it perfect for fall!

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Mischo Beauty Pick: Marc Jacobs Daisy Pop Art



If you liked Marc Jacobs' original Daisy fragrance, then you'll love his newest scent, Daisy Pop Art. Described as a "richer interpretation of the original", the scent's top notes include velvety violet, gardenia, jasmine and wild strawberry. And the result - a divine fragrance, which I love! Introduced in a new limited-edition bottle inspired by Marc Jacobs love of art, the scent is exclusively available this fall.

Have you tried it? In love with it?

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty: It's My Birthday! - Part II



Yes, I'm still celebrating my birthday - October has been an amazing month so far. A few of you emailed me asking about "dinner #2". Well, my fiance surprised me and took me to Buddha Bar for dinner (above I'm enjoying the Rock Shrimp Tempura Spicy Mayonnaise and a Chambord & Champagne cocktail) , followed by dessert and then dancing. I had a ball! And guess what, I'm still celebrating. Life is short, so why not!

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Mischo Beauty Review: Bliss Spa at the W Hotel (Washington D.C.)



A few weeks ago, as a pre-birthday celebration, my friend and I decided to visit the new Bliss Spa at the W Hotel (Washington, DC). As most of you know, I love to spa (remember this review), and so we were actually overdue with this visit after considering the fact that it's been open for a year now. Because we'd planned to do lunch at POV, which is the W Hotel's rooftop restaurant, we decided to keep our spa treatments simple and booked ourselves for a manicure, pedicure and brazilian bikini wax.

What's important to know is that this Bliss location, in my opinion, is for treatment maintenance only. It's small - the relaxation area only seats four comfortably, the changing area is tiny, and there's only one shower and one restroom (for women). There are four treatment rooms, two stations for manicures, and two stations for pedicures. It lacks of ambiance, but I do think it's a great place to go for your monthly maintenance treatments such as- waxing, facials, etc. - especially if you find a spa therapist there you love!

Well, that happened to be the case with me. You see, I had the most amazing brazilian bikini wax (brazilian bikini - the fully monty) here, and the spa therapist responsible for it was Shae Jackson. Shae's waxing technique is like none other I've experienced, which made the service quick and almost painless (no brazilian bikini wax is completely pain free!). My disclosure to you is that I'm naturally biased (because I'm an esthetician, I naturally have very high expectations) when it comes to spa services. She used hard wax, never double-dipped, and sanitation/disinfection was taken very seriously! I was beyond pleased with the results.

I also had a manicure (Bliss hot cream manicure) and pedicure (Bliss basic pedicure) which unfortunately were "nothing to write home about". The services were just average, which doesn't quite justify the $80 price and 20% gratuity. But, I guess you win some and lose some, and I definitely "won" with the waxing service!

If you've visited this Bliss location, I'd love to hear about your experience. So, please share it in the comments section.

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Mischo Beauty Challenge Update: "A Healthy, Sexy & Beautiful 2010"



I think a weekly check-in is in order from now until the end of the year. I'm still wearing my pedometer and challenging myself to get in at least 10,000 steps each day - in addition to doing cardio at the gym. As I stated last week, we're quickly nearing the end of the "A Healthy, Sexy & Beautiful 2010" challenge and I want to encourage you all to finish strong. So please keep me updated in the comments section. And so to switch things up, I added fruit smoothies (the one above was made with strawberries, raspberries, bananas, orange juice, ice, flax seed oil and protein powder) to the smoothie routine this week and they are sooooo good!






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Mischo Beauty Alert: LIERAC Paris Skincare & NewBeauty Magazine Present “Advances in Cosmetic Medicine”



Because you all clearly know how much I love skincare - I thought I'd share this event with you. If you decide to attend, please stop back by and let us know your thoughts! Enjoy.

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Mischo Beauty Loves Slatkin & Co. "Autumn Apple" Candle



You can probably tell from this photo that I'm still celebrating my birthday! Actually, I plan to do so all month long (Hehehe!). These beautiful red roses and this Slatkin & Co. "Autumn Apple" candle have given me LIFE, and I just thought I'd share them with you. Enjoy your weekend.

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty School: Skin Types vs. Skin Conditions



If you take anything away from this blog, my hope is that it's properly caring for your skin! Education is key- and that's the reason I continue with the "Mischo Beauty School" posts (your "beauty education"!). According to the New York Times "a new beauty product is born every 2.5 seconds", so while there's always a new product to look forward to, the reality is that these products come and go! The foundation for achieving great skin is knowing your skin type, skin conditions and implementing a consistent skincare regimen.

Now with that said, let's address "Skin Types vs. Skin Conditions". Your skin type is genetically determined (you're born with it!) and most often can be controlled with a consistent skincare regimen. Skin types are as follows:

- Normal
- Dry
- Oily/Combination
- Acneic
- Sensitive

Skin conditions are most often caused by external factors such as the environment, stress, medication, etc. and may include the following:

- Dehydration
- Sensitivities
- Aging
- Pigmentation
- Breakouts

These conditions affect all skin types and may change daily. The great news is that these conditions can be corrected! So for example, you might have an oily skin type that suffers from breakouts and pigmentation issues. And so with all that said, knowing the difference between your skin type and skin conditions will only better help you in selecting the best products for your skincare regimen which will ultimately assist in achieving the goal of healthy skin!

Any questions? Love your skin.

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Mischo Beauty Pick: Caudalie Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Crème



Because I loved the Caudalie skincare regimen so much, I thought I'd introduce you to their Vinosource Quenching Sorbet-Creme. It's recommended for those of you with skin conditions such as "dehydration", and also for those of you with easily sensitized skin. Fall is here and winter is around the corner, so don't forget to adjust your skincare regimen as needed!

Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Extra: Deborah Lippmann's Fall 2010 Nail Polish Collection



During my birthday weekend, I headed over to Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa (Chevy Chase) for a manicure. I was really looking forward to the Red Door Signature manicure, but instead received the Warm Cream manicure due to the lack of available appointments. Well, I wish I would've waited, because I wasn't happy with my service- at all. Not only was the manicure rushed, but I came in wearing Chanel's "Dragon" and for some reason left with red stains around my cuticles. So what saved the day? Well it was Deborah Lippmann's "Bad Romance" nail polish (center in photo above). It's part of the fall collection which also includes "Across the Universe" (right in photo above) - and I love it! Here's another photo...



Manicure service was not complimentary. Disclosure: Products in this post were provided for consideration by the company. For more information, please see my disclosure.

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Mischo Beauty Challenge Update: "A Healthy, Sexy & Beautiful 2010"



Since we're 3 months out from the end of 2010, I quickly wanted to check in to find out where you are with the "A Healthy, Sexy & Beautiful 2010" challenge. I have to be honest and let you all know that I've fallen off here and there over this past year, but each time I've fallen off, I've started right back up again! As you'll remember, this was never a "weight loss" challenge, but simply a challenge to take better care of ourselves. And so I started the hashtag #HealthySexyBeautiful2010 in order to follow tweets about our daily progress. Are you still using it? Soooo, please update me on your progress! Oh, and someone asked about the "glowing green smoothie" I tweet about some mornings. And so here are photos so you're able to see some of the process, as well as the consistency (like applesauce!).





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Mischo Beauty Giveaway Winner: GEORGIA Gift Bag



And so without further delay, I'm happy to announce that the winner is:

Kristina Williams

Please head over to Beauty Logic to claim your beauty goodies as soon as possible. A very special thank you to everyone who came out to support the event!

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Mischo Beauty: It's My Birthday!



I'd like to thank everyone for all of the birthday wishes! Here are a few photos taken last night from birthday dinner #1. I drew inspiration for my overall look from the current issue of LOVE magazine (which I've used in most of my posts this week) - I can't get enough of it! Have you seen it? Anyway, my friends and I had a ball at Oya (one of my favorite restaurants), and I can't wait to do it all over again tonight! Thank you all so much again - enjoy your weekend!








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Mischo Beautyliciousness...



So tomorrow's my birthday and while searching for inspiration on a hair and makeup look for birthday dinner #1 (tonight) and birthday dinner #2 (tomorrow), I stumbled on this photo of Beyonce. I'm loving the big hair, flawless makeup and of course the party dress. Fabulous!

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