Salon by Maxime’s Q KERATIN Treatment

September 9, 2011

I have a love-hate relationship with my baby-fine hair. It’s cursed with cowlicks and random waves and often looks best crammed under a hat. In a town that covets all that's smooth and silky, I am a fuzzy-headed outlyer.


So, I'’ll admit I was a bit skeptical to try the Q Keratin treatment ($100) at the Salon by Maxime <http://thesalonbymaxime.com/>  in Beverly Hills. I always thought the magic of Keratin was reserved for the Kim Kardashians of the world, and not for people with quirky, “little-kid” hair like me. But, happily I was wrong. This gentle and super-hydrating treatment turns out to be a godsend for people with thinning and more fragile hair. It’s also great for pregnant ladies since its completely formaldehyde-free.


I'm new to L.A. and felt princess-like valet parking my car on North Rodeo Drive and breezing into The Salon by Maxime on a Saturday afternoon, that also just so happened to be my birthday. Despite it's not-so-easy-to-navigate website,  I immediately knew I was in good hands. The environment is beautiful and unpretentious and everyone was incredibly friendly. Maxime, the owner, introduced himself and I was quickly ushered into the chair of Rima Uranga, "“the straightening queen,"” who carefully surveyed my fine, frizzy mane with a slight frown. She explained how LiQWD <http://liqwd.com/> ’s Q Keratin treatment works (it can be applied at varied levels depending on the nature and condition of the hair) and that it relaxes, hydrates and smoothes frizz rather than straightens (the key ingredient is quinoa protein). My waves are one of the few things that I like about my hair, so I was definitely on board. Rima also mentioned that the results are cumulative, so the treatments work to strengthen and improve hair quality over time.


After a fabulous scalp massage, Rima got down to business. She applied the chemical-free solution and gently dried and flat-ironed my hair on a low setting. I felt very “Joan Jett” with my temporarily stick-straight do, but Rima assured me that my waves would be back in a few days, just shinier and frizz-free. I left armed with Maxime’'s “"Color Retention System"” shampoo and conditioner (both are sulfate- and sodium-chloride free and smell amazing) and “Restore,” a light, leave-in conditioner. (Love!) I also sampled LiQWD’s “Q-Keratin Longevity Serum” to help extend the life of my treatment and “The Perfect Wave” for days that I let my hair air-dry. I am officially a fan of the entire LiQWD line that's filled with high-quality ingredients and delivers impressive results.
More than a month later, my hair is still soft and shiny and worthy of leaving the house sans hat.

– Amelia Glynn

 


::  Amelia Glynn is a freelance writer and self-proclaimed beauty product whore. She loves putting the promise of each new lotion and potion to the test.

ameliaglynn.com 

Super Sale at JUVIE! Back to school cool!

September 8, 2011

BTS2011
my fave shop for clothes i try to fit in even though they are supposed to be for tweens.

Juvie, the tween clothing boutique, knows that it's always after school starts when kids really figure out what they want to wear this fall.  

That's why they're running a 20% off everything sale, now through Sunday.

Give your kid's fall wardrobe a boost with promo code BOOSTER, and take 20% off faves like a hooded faux fur vest, Joe's Jeans, and Libertalia girl's tunic tops.


organic skincare for dudes Organic Male OM4.

September 7, 2011

Organic_male_skincare

organic skincare for dudes Organic Male OM4.

strong enough for a man, but i'm usin it….

 


 
WHAT :: Four categories comprise the OM4 Men collection – Normal, Oily, Dry, and Sensitive. The assortment includes: Wash, a cleanser, Balance, an aftershave/toner, Bioactivate, a serum and Defend, a moisturizer.

Solution specific ingredients especially formulated for their benefits are contained in each product. Precise formulations of natural and whenever possible organic and biodynamic botanicals yield OM4’s distinctive results.

The ingredients work to achieve and maintain natural, healthy skin. Each OM4 collection contains rejuvenating vitamin and antioxidant rich extracts to actively defer the onset of premature skin aging and help men maintain their best appearance for years to come.  
 
Every product positions the skin to be in the absolute best shape possible, while educating men that daily skin conditioning is just as important as maintaining one’s physical fitness.  This seriously scientific skin care routine is not just for baby boomers but also for teenagers who want to have protected and healthy skin now and forever.  
  

Red in the face from not wearing SPF this summer? You should be! Luckily, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs Skin Cancer Surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Mark can tell you the signs of real damage to your skin from the summer sun.

September 5, 2011

Dr. Kenneth Mark has four prestigious practices including two in the Hamptons one in Aspen and one in NYC and is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at New York University fills us in on end of the summer skin checks….
 
Here's what to look for after the summer and how to treat it:
 
   Learn Your ABCs: Signs of skin cancer: Dr. Mark can educate your readers on what problem signs to look for in moles – the A, B, C, D rule:

o   Asymmetry

o   Border Irregularity

o   Color change or dark or multicolor

o   Diameter greater than 5-6 mm's

 
      Don’t hack it:  If you do find a troublesome spot, visiting an unqualified dermatologist can be just dangerous as a mole.  Your skin is your body’s largest organ and should be treated with both the finest cosmetic and medical care.  Dr. Mark can talk about what to look for when choosing a dermatologist—whether for medical or cosmetic procedures, and why it’s so crucial to choose wisely.

 

  • Treating Skin Cancer – What is Mohs Surgery: Mohs Micrographic Surgery is the most advanced and effective treatment procedure for skin cancer available today.  With the Mohs technique, physicians are able to see beyond the visible disease, to precisely identify and remove the entire tumor layer by layer while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed. As the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, it minimizes the chance of re-growth and lessens the potential for scarring or disfigurement. The Mohs technique is also the treatment of choice for cancers of the face and other sensitive areas as it relies on the accuracy of a microscopic surgical procedure to trace the edges of the cancer and ensure complete removal of all tumors down to the roots during the initial surgery.
    • Downtime:  Local anesthesia is administered around the area of the tumor so the patient is awake during the entire procedure.


      

best doctors  
  Dr. Mark was voted as a Best Doctor in America by Best Doctors, Inc., a peer-review process and survey that asked physicians to evaluate the skills and talents of other physicians in their specialty.

The Truth Behind Hyperpigmentation Tips from Dermalogica’s Director of Global Education Annet King

September 2, 2011

The Truth Behind Hyperpigmentation
Tips from Dermalogica’s Director of Global Education Annet King

Are age spots treatable? If so, could the treatments you choose compromise skin health? Bust myths and uncover facts with Annet King, Director of Global Education for Dermalogica and The International Dermal Institute.

What is melanin?
Simply put, melanin is what gives our skin its unique color. It is believed the primary function of melanin is to protect our skin and cells from sunlight.
 
Why do spots appear in the sunlight?
The pigment-producing cell (melanocyte) is easily stimulated by UV light, which can “draw out” age spots.
 
What else triggers age spots?
Hormones, pregnancy, even birth control pills can cause darkening of skin.

What can I do?

      Wear SPF every single day, even when you think UV exposure will be at a minimum. Cumulative daylight exposure can trigger as much skin damage as a burn. Try Dermalogica’s Pure Light SPF30 <http://www.dermalogica.com/us/html/products/pure-light-spf30-71.html?type=product_system&amp;cat=ChromaWhite+TRx%C2%AE>  for the ultimate protection against hyperpigmentation. Dermalogica also offers a Solar Defense Booster <http://www.dermalogica.com/us/html/products/solar-defense-booster-spf30-77.html?type=product_system&amp;cat=daylight+defense>  that can be used alone or mixed with another moisturizer to add SPF!
 

       Be meticulous about your brightening and exfoliating regimen, as outlined by a skin care professional.

      Be patient! Results can take anywhere from 28 to 60 days, as this is how long skin cell renewal takes.

      Get a professional treatment every 4 to 6 weeks to increase skin luminosity and monitor skin health.