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Beauty Culture Featured Health Lifestyle Uncategorized

An Interview With The Chin Twins!

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All photos by Nigel Barker.

Downtown had the opportunity to talk with Cristen and Kimberly Chin about their new show: The Chin Twins! The show follows Cristen and Kimberly as they show us how to cook some of their favorite family recipes while they teach us how to love life and stay balanced in such a crazy world! From visiting local shops and restaurants to learning natural beauty hacks, The Chin Twins has something for everyone! Read on to see what they have to say about their new show, the importance of food and family, and much more!

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You both practice yoga. How did you start? How has it helped you during the pandemic? Do you have any tips or advice for beginners?

Kimmy: We grew up dancing. We’ve always used our bodies as an art form. We did ballet, tap, jazz, point. And we were pretty athletic. We were swimmers. We tried to do diving; it didn’t quite work out. 

It began with a Bikram studio. And that’s the very hot, pretty regimented type of yoga. We started out being drawn to the physical practice of yoga. It deepened after we became parents, when we became pregnant. We did prenatal yoga, Mommy and Me yoga, with our babies. Yoga has evolved with us as we’ve aged. 

And then we both did our teacher training. We wanted to share it with other people, so we both teach, we both practice. 

Crissy: The pandemic was a huge shift. I for one love to go into studios; I feed off the energy of all the other yogis in the room, and I love breathing together or flowing together. Everything just came to a halt. 

It was a forced change to our practice, but it did deepen it in a different way. That is one time I needed yoga the most just because of the anxiety and the unknown, having two kids at home trying to do homeschooling. Yoga shifted, and it was amazing the way you can find what you need from your practice under different circumstances. You find ways to carve out a space in your home. It was a struggle, but I think it deepened my relationship with yoga. My practice is definitely more restorative, more calming; I go to it for that. 

Kimmy: There’s just so many types of yoga, and yoga can meet you wherever you are. The best advice is don’t try to compare yourself to anybody else, even when you start in a classroom because yoga looks different to everybody. Yoga can be doing things mindfully, it can be meditation. There are so many different classes and styles. Just keep searching and find where you fit. 

Crissy: Try as many different styles as you can until you find one that suits you, and that might change. Just keep an open mind. And that suits all points of your life like being a student, being a mother. That’s a healthy way to approach all things in life. 

And I think that’s also why Kimmy and I created this show, The Chin Twins, to introduce some of the more lofty, complicated yoga philosophies in a more day to day way. Ways to use everyday activities in your home to kind of emulate these larger yogic principles. That’s really what the show’s about. 

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How do you use food to stay connected with your family?

Crissy: It’s a human, primal desire to be able to care for people, and food, for us as mothers, definitely plays a role in that, for caring and nourishing. And connecting, to gather, to commune. 

Kimmy: When you’re cooking, when you’re nourishing, you’re putting a little bit of heart into your food and sharing it with your family. In the show–we filmed it all in Woodstock where Crissy lives–we went out and embraced the community like little local shops, and that also strengthened the community. 

Crissy: I love to explore different cultures through food. So my friends and my family will have a themed night, like it’s Moroccan Night and we’ll have the tajin out and the couscous, so I love using food to broaden and teach. 

Kimmy: Like when we’re having Italian Night, I put on Italian bistro music. You bring Italy to you, especially during the pandemic. Everybody got so experimental. I think it was Christmas Eve and I said, “Let’s go get snow crab legs.” We’ve never had that! We were just trying to bring the world to our kitchens because we couldn’t get out and travel. 

 

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In the episodes that have aired so far, you visit quite a few local shops in Woodstock, NY like Harana Market and Three Turtle Doves. What do you love about shopping local, and why is it important for you and for us to support local stores in our communities? 

Crissy: Small businesses got hit so hard during the pandemic, and they struggled to stay open and keep the foot traffic going, and, as Kimmy mentioned we haven’t been traveling as much, so I really feel like I’ve reconnected with my small town. And not that I didn’t appreciate them before, but every little community…there’s so many treasures in our own backyard. It’s amazing to be able to visit them and to really sit and hear their stories. I go in and out of shops everyday, and it’s nice just to connect with the owners. It’s really special to be able to share that with our audience. It’s a real gift that we can go and help share that with the world. 

We visited Tinker Taco, which I go to all the time, and I love their tacos. But I had never watched him make them by hand. And he really starts with the kernels of corn and soaks it and grinds it and presses it. 

Kimmy: It’s nice to appreciate what’s in your own backyard. And when we support our local businesses, they really look out for us too. The community, if we need something, they’d be the first ones to bring food to your house. And you know where your food is coming from. 

Crissy: It’s important to know where that tortilla came from! And now it makes me want to go and make my own at home. 

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The first episode talked about staying grounded and having a solid foundation, and we saw that one of the ways you do this is by cooking. What are some other ways you have found to stay grounded? 

Crissy: Outside of the physical practice of yoga, it’s just taking a break. Stopping. Sometimes we get very caught up in the to-do list or the kids or whatever is happening. Just take time for yourself. It’s very helpful in staying grounded. And surround yourself with grounded people.

Kimmy: Something easy no matter where you are is your breath. It’s probably the easiest tool anybody can use to ground themselves. You can be in an airplane, in the grocery store waiting in line, driving…just taking a long, deep breath…there’s so many simple breathing techniques. Your breath is the quickest, easiest way to ground yourself. 

Crissy: Or taking a walk in nature. Just taking a walk connects you with the solid foundation, the ground.

Kimmy: Or music. And what ground me might not work for you. You kind of find that, what does it for you. 

Crissy: There is such a thing as being too grounded. Like if your root chakra is overly active, then you’re sluggish. You’re not motivated; you feel stuck. There’s being in tune with your energy centers, and your mood just helps you know that you’re too grounded, that you need to elevate. Finding tools in your tool kit that help you find that balance. It’s a journey. 

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What helped you most during the pandemic, and what advice do you have for people who are struggling to build a solid foundation in their lives?

Crissy: Sometimes you have to tune it out. Turn off the news. Be aware but don’t leave it on in the background. You have to carve out time where you’re safe in your environment with your family. Or doing things that you enjoy, and that bring you creativity. Don’t let the outside world bog you down to a point where you can’t hear yourself anymore. 

Kimmy: I think a big thing that can bring peace to people is surrendering. As humans, we feel safe when we’re in control, or when we think we’re in control. But really we’re not in control of anything at all, especially the big things happening all over the world. So being okay with not being in control, which is just surrendering. Trusting the universe. And that’s a practice. 

Crissy: Anxiety is with us all the time. We have to surrender or find ways to assert control over how we deal with things, how we process it. Pick out something small. What can I do on a small scale that is going to help? There are little things we can do.

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Do you have any funny twin stories for us?

Crissy: When we were little–this is an example of how Kimmy and I, to this day, will tag team and get the job done and use our strengths to enhance the others weaknesses–we went to a Catholic school and wore uniforms. And our teachers were nuns, older nuns, that didn’t have great eyesight. So on days where there were two tests, I would study for math and Kimmy would study for history, and then she would take both history tests and I would take both math tests. And we never got caught!

 

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The Chin Twins airs Wednesday nights at 9/8c on The Design Network. To watch the episodes that have aired so far, check out The Design Network’s YouTube Channel!

 

 

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Categories
Beauty Featured Health Living

Sisley Paris Treats Downtowners to an Evening of Pampering, Showcasing 2022 Skincare and Makeup

Sisley Paris Bleecker Street
Sisley Paris Bleecker Street's boutique.

 

The French luxury brand Sisley Paris recently partnered with DOWNTOWN Magazine NYC to invite some of their dedicated readers, to a private evening of pampering, including mini facials and makeup applications, at their Bleecker Street location.

 

Sisley Skincare 2022

Skincare is essential for anti-aging

Sisley Paris’s esthetician Marcia Bush gives Lana Masor a customized facial. Photos: Mariana Agostini.

60 Minute Bleecker Street Signature Facial

Marcia Bush, Sisley Paris’s expert esthetician, prepared customized mini facials for each guest, based on their skincare needs, whether it’s to hydrate the skin, enjoy aromatherapy, a restorative facial for skin that is stressed or needs brightening. Sisley Paris also offers its busy clients on-the-go a 60 minute Bleecker Street Signature Facial, that includes a relaxing scalp and leg massage. The Lyslait démaquillant au Lys Blanc toutes peaux is a gentle cleansing milk, with White Lily, that is good for all skin types. For reducing redness on sensitive skin, Bush recommends using the Lotion Tonique aux Fleurs, which is alcohol-free, to calm the skin. The instant éclat works as an instant glow primer.

Sisley Paris Black Rose collection
Sisley Paris Black Rose collection soothes and plumps skin.

Sisley Paris is renowned for its Black Rose collection, a series of products uniquely created with Paris-grown black roses, that naturally soothes and plumps the skin.

The evening also included a tutorial discussing Sisley Paris’s simple, three-step evening regimen for skincare that only takes minutes, introducing the Supremÿa La Nuit anti-aging skincare line. This includes a Night Lotion, to prepare skin; Supremÿa at Night, to repair damage; and Supremÿa Eyes at Night, to reduce eye puffiness and diminish the look of dark circles.

Sisley Paris-Spring Makeup 2022

Sisley Paris Makeup
Quentin at Sisley Paris gives Downtowner Aleksandra Lacka a makeup application.

 

All of Sisley Paris’s makeup is plant-based

Our CEO Grace A. Capobianco with Marcia Bush of Sisley Paris.

It’s all about striking a balance between finding the right skincare regimen for your lifestyle, and “légèreté-(lightness in French), makeup that’s a second skin,” says store manager Cecile Dennis. It shouldn’t feel heavy, but give a natural look that might make one wonder if someone is even wearing makeup. For spring 2022, they’ve introduced their Phyto-Teint Nude foundation. All of Sisley Paris’s makeup is plant-based, so it is kind to your skin, without ingredients such as alcohol, that can be drying and cause irritation. It also seals in hydration and optimizes plumpness.

 

Sisley Phyto Rouge Shine
Sisley Phyto-Rouge Shine

 

For lips, Sisley Paris recently introduced its Phyto-Rouge Shine, hydrating lip color, with Vitamin E, Moringa Oil, and Jojoba oil, available in 12 shades. But also, the applicator is designed to be kind to the environment; the elegant-looking refill clips into the base of the cap. Remove the upper part of the lipstick by pulling it upwards and clipping in the new refill.

Sisley Paris also has its own brand of hair care products, Sisley Hair Rituel, which is the equivalent of medical-grade back in France. Their Revitalizing Fortifying Serum Duo includes two highly concentrated serums infused with plant-based extracts, proteins, vitamins, and minerals to visibly fortify hair and scalp.

For more information on Sisley Paris, to purchase these products, or to make an appointment for a spa treatment at their Bleecker Street boutique, 343 Bleecker Street call and ask for Marcia Bush 212-645-1013 or visit sisleyparis.com

 

Categories
Featured

DOWNTOWN’S Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 2022

 
Let us endeavor to make 2022 the year of Love, for there has been no greater time when love is so very needed.
 
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments; Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle’s compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom. 
If this be error and upon me prov’d,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.”
-William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116

 

 
 
 
 
We love Valentine’s Day, especially when we celebrate at Ladurée. This year, book take your sweetheart for a special breakfast for two, consisting of two rose lattes, two pains au chocolat, two boxes of three custom macarons, and a NEW heart-shaped rose croissant. This is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift to share with that special someone.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fly XO to Aspen and experience world-class skiing while staying at five-star resorts. Use the XO mobile app to book an entire charter or select individual seats on a private jet at a fraction of the cost.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Get you and your sweetheart back on the right track to fitness with a membership at Asphalt Green. Say ‘I love you’ with fitness for 2022. Their memberships offer top-notch fitness centers and pools. Book one of their instructional classes or programs for both children and adults. Throughout the year, winter, spring, summer, and fall, no excuse. Asphalt Green includes everything from infant swim, diving classes, youth basketball leagues, and private Pilates Reformer classes.
 
 
 
 
 
LIPS Embellished Throw by Jonathan Adler. Sexy, seductive, saucy—a kiss of glam in bold red and glittering gold to chic up your comfy spot. Hand-embroidered by artisans, their unbelievably soft and luxurious throws are just the accents your abode deserves.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dr. Amy Lewis  Give the gift she will love you all year, natural lip filler. Big is out, going back to the natural look Expertly done by Dr. Amy Lewis. 
 
 
Tokyo Totepack. This premium leather upgrade to our Tokyo Totepack adapts to your day, with two carry modes and surprisingly sorted storage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flex Pro Denim Jacket GOOD MAN BRAND A classic-style denim jacket made from comfortable stretch denim is a surefire staple for your casual wardrobe.
 
 
 
 

 

Our CEO’s favorite everyday brand is PhilanthroBee’s®️ skincare. Bee Body Bar saved her from itchy skin. As a daily swimmer, chlorine eventually got to her angrily inflamed skin. Until she tired, PhilanthroBee’s®️ skincare. The last thing you want is to layer chemically treated thick creams on top of your skin. That’s why the BeeCause Body Bar works with your body heat to melt into your skin, using the power of natural bee products to soothe, replenish moisture, promote skin health, and protect against damage.

Another favorite of hers is the Bee-Ch Facial Clarifying Mask. Every week (sometimes more), she enjoys the BEE-ch facial mask cleanser. It gently draws out toxins and debris that accumulate in our pores throughout the week. Living in New York City, taking care of your skin is extremely important. 

 

 

Maybe a little self-love this year try Ascention, a blend of red currants and strawberries, laced with delicious vanilla and musk. Infused with an authentic, fair-trade Rose Quartz crystal. Ascent to Love with the perfect gift for those in need of some self-love this Valentine’s Day.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Full of Mediterranean character, Corvo is produced with the use of modern technology, to preserve the integrity and naturalness of the ingredients, always ready to offer a simply perfect tasting experience. Corvo Grillo Sicilia DOC and, Corvo Nero d’Avola Sicilia DOC. Both restyled clean, with a harmonious design delivering the freshness and fruity aromas of Sicily to the table. Be sure to give the first wines bottled in Sicily in 1824, and now one of the most appreciated wines.
 
 
 
 
One of our favorite places downtown to relax and take in the views, The Greens invites you to cozy up with your loved ones in your own private and cozy winter cabin. Enjoy a menu of regional delicacies and hand-crafted cocktails, along with a complimentary bottle of Rosé and a Valentine-themed dessert included with your reservation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Scapegrace Black is the world’s first naturally black, color-changing gin by The New Zealand-based Scapegrace Distillery. Scapegrace Black begins, like all quality gins, with intense juniper and the addition of premium, exotic botanicals. The master distiller used a combination of local sweet potato, aronia berries, pineapple, and saffron, as well as Butterfly pea flower, which they sourced from Southeast Asia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Give her the gift from Christian Lacroix For Swiminista, a sarong in Josephine print, then whisk her away on an impromptu holiday to her favorite sunny locale. 

 
 
ICON Roland Sands Signature 2254 Chronograph. 43mm 316L Stainless Steel Case and Fixed Bezel with IP Antique Gold Plating, Stainless Steel Push Crown, and Screw-In Caseback. K1 Flat Hardened Mineral Crystal. Japan Quartz (Miyota 6S21) 2 Eye Chronograph with Date Movement.
 
Larroudé Vail Boot is a brand to add to your wardrobe. Marrying the comfort of Montana with the functionality of a lace-up boot to give us the Vail. Ready for the mountains, the faux shearling interior is super soft-to-the-touch while the all-weather exterior is all about function.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Larroudè and Her Highness – Valentine’s Day, customers will be gifted with a “highly orgasmic” pleasure oil as a gift with purchase (while supplies last). We are excited to have our clients treat themselves to the perfect pair (shoes + pleasure oil) this Valentine’s Day! 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For the side sleeper, this Scrumptious Side Sleeper Pillow is unique, with a curve that supports your neck and shoulders whether you are on your side or your back. Their design is meticulously from the degree of its curvature to the height and firmness of the fill inside it.  The perfect give for your side sleeper.

 

Take your sweetheart on one of New York’s historical treasures, with a memorable horse-drawn carriage tour of Central Park. The tour includes a bottle of sparkling wine, a bucket of roses, and photographs.

 
 
 
 
 
Wish your love off to Las Catalinas is a new beach town on the Guanacaste coast of Costa Rica. Its purpose is to create a way of life that is healthy, sustainable, fulfilling, and fun. Las Catalinas consists of houses, shops, restaurants, small hotels and inns, plazas, parks, and recreational facilities. Las Catalinas in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Check out the new outdoor beachfront gym there, CORE by Chakfitness, and sign up for a week of personal training and unlimited gym and class access — including a personalized take-home program designed by owner Chakiris Menafacio.
 

 

Categories
Beauty Fashion Health

Hair with ’70s Flair

Fall hair trends are a playful nod to ’70s style.

THE ‘70S ARE BACK. We might be over glam rock and disco right now, but the styles they inspired are back in orbit. Maybe it’s
the feeling of revolution in the air. Maybe it’s the time we spent in lockdown yearning for freedom. If you’re looking to share in the celebration, then you’re in luck. Here are three perfect looks for your hair — long, medium, or short — that will bring out your ‘70s soul with a modern twist.

Long

Model: Bodhi

“This is our long look, a crimped wave with long layers, natural hair color, and long bangs. For the styling, I used Fekkai’s Full Blown Volume Shampoo and then a 3-barrel curling iron and 1-inch brush for the curtain bang.”

Medium

Hair by David Cotteblanche/Next Management. Photo by Antoine Verglas.

Model: Mnatalla

“This is a shorter look, a mid-length chop. For this, I used shea butter curl-defining cream and then created a long layered collarbone- length cut with a 1″ inch curling iron.”

Short

Hair by David Cotteblanche/Next Management. Photo by Antoine Verglas.

Model: Clelia

“This last short look is a French bob with blunt ends. To get this look I used Fekkai’s Apple Cider Detox, followed by a shampoo and rinse, and then blended the haircut at chin level, smoothing and straightening it with a flat iron.”

For more information or to make an appointment with David Cotteblanche, visit fekkai.com DT

photography by Antoine Verglas

 

Categories
Featured Living NYC

Downtown’s Ultimate Gift Guide 2021

Downtown's Ultimate Gift Guide 2021
Photographer Noel Y. Calingasan

Photo Credit: https://instagram.com/nyclovesnyc?utm_medium=copy_link

Each year, Downtown readers come to us asking what might be the best gifts to give this season. We took a look at this year’s greatest products from cooking to dining, fashion to beauty, and tech to culture to give our recommendations for the ultimate gift guide of 2021. Browse on for ideas on what to give each special person in your life this holiday season, from our hearts to yours.

7-Piece Espresso Works All-in-One Set Stainless Steel

Become a barista in your own kitchen with the all-in-one EspressoWorks 15-bar Espresso Machine, offering an electric grinder, portafilter, ceramic cups, and milk frothing pitcher. Craft professional-quality café drinks in less than a minute at home and never spend a dime on take-out coffee again!

Heimat Elderflower Liqueur Heimat New York

A New-York based maker of seasonal, award-winning craft liqueurs, has expanded its portfolio. This small batch is crafted using hand-picked flowers from Greiner Brothers farm. The liqueur is a more fragrant, less sweet alternative to traditional Elderflower liqueur.

Hudson Grace’s Bar Basics: Old Fashioned Kit

This set will have your bar ready to go to prepare an old-fashioned for dad, or that special holiday guest. Includes 13.5 oz bourbon cherries, 8 oz demerara syrup, 1 oz aromatic bitters, and a graduated jigger.

5-Piece Bourbon Street Whiskey Decanter Set

We are in love with this perfect holiday gift, made of diamond wheel cut glass with a beautiful crisscross pattern, this New Orleans-inspired set is engineered to enhance your whiskey drinking experience. Set includes one decanter and four glasses.

LAFCO Reed Diffuser

A lovely mouth-blown glass vessel, large hand-cut reeds fill your home with a steady release of expertly crafted fragrance. Each essential oil-based fragrance is specially blended and highly concentrated to provide a true, natural scent for up to a year.

LAFCO Signature Candle

Fragrant, soy-based candles have been hand-poured into colorful mouth-blown art glass vessels that can be reused in your home décor. Each naturally luxurious essential oil-based fragrance has been specially designed and concentrated to provide a true and natural scent.

Give the Gift of Cruising

CLASSIC HARBOR LINE’S Cocoa and Carols Holiday Cruise is a great way to get into the holiday spirit with coworkers or loved ones and the perfect gift. The 1.5-hour cruise sets sail evenings from Chelsea Piers and will include live musical performances, complimentary house-made cocoa, and cookies, and a selection of beer, wine, and soda will also be available for purchase, plus spectacular views of New York City. Choose one of many city cruises on Classic Harbor line, give the gift of New York City, with some of the best crew and captains in all of NYC.sail-nyc.com

Give New York’s Skyline – Premium Metal Chess Set

These stunning chess sets take distinguished line-ups of notable architecture and transform them into game pieces to create a truly unique statement piece. Each set includes double-weighted pieces featuring soft felt bases, a hand screen-printed wooden hatch board, and a presentation box. Of course, our favorite is the New York Skyline.

Bring France to your table this year with Château de Nalys Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grand Vin 2017

We are thrilled to add to our gift guide this year, the Guigal family’s dream of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with three extraordinary vineyards coming together in an intensely expressive, utterly complete wine. The Grand Vin defines the estate style with a precision of fruit, spice, and minerality and notably, a beautifully composed structure that unfolds and builds (and builds). This wine is deep and dark, with an intense nose of red and blackberries and spice. A beautiful composition, with silky tannins, power, and elegance. Pair with red meats either grilled or cooked in sauces, game birds, or aged cheeses.

Honest Nighttime Self-Care Kit

Refresh from long, hard days out on the town with the Honest Nighttime Self-Care Kit. Complete with a cleanser, mud mask, facial cream, and resurfacing serum, this collection takes away the years this city might wear on you overnight. 

Obagi

Obagi skincare products are designed to help minimize the appearance of premature skin aging, skin damage, hyperpigmentation, acne, and sun damage.

Polish + Mask contain an unparalleled level of 30% L-ascorbic acid for brighter more youthful-looking skin and ultra-fine silica-alumina crystals that help shed the most superficial layers of the epidermis, removing built-up surface debris and prepping skin for infusion of Vitamin C. Even better? The infusion of botanical oils minimizes dryness while maximizing glow.

The concentrated Obagi Professional-C Serums offer vitamin C in a rich formula in three concentration levels, perfect for all skin types. Suncare from Obagi contains vitamins B, C, and E to help brighten the skin and promote a healthy, youthful-looking glow. While vitamin C provides added sun protection, it does not take the place of sunblock. Thankfully, this dual-function sunscreen combines broad-spectrum SPF 30 in a 10% L-ascorbic acid formulation—the perfect multitasker to address the appearance of skin aging.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Universe

Glow up with this limited-edition five-pan palette, featuring four new ambient lighting power shades.

Denali Green Sabah’s

Sabah’s in Denali Green is the perfect leather shoe to complement your fall outfit this season.

Give the gift of beauty and grooming this year with Dr. Amy B. Lewis

Dr. Amy B. Lewis is a nationally renowned medical expert and consultant in the field of cosmetic dermatology, and one of Downtown’s newest board members. From Cosmetic anti-aging procedures to specialized products, she is our go-to expert. Choose a gift certificate, make gift-giving simpler by giving the recipient the choice. Stocking stuffers are our favorite, choose from Colorscience Mineral Correction Palette, Crystal Peel Lavender Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Soap, Alastin Regenerating Skin Nectar, Emepelle Eye Cream, Colorscience Lip Shine, Clinicians ComplexLIP Enhancer Clear & Red, Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face shield, ISDIN Si-Nails, Photozyme Vitamin C+E, and ISDIB K-Ox Eyes.

For Her give full-size beauty products,  Alastin Procedure Enhancement system with TriHex Technology, Emepelle Night Cream, DefenAge Clinical Power Trio, ISDIN Uradin Lotion, and Hylastra®Gold.

For Him get him started out on the right foot with anti-aging products, DefenAge Men’s Kit, Photozyme Omega 36 DNA Complex, ISDIN Isdinceutics Malatonik™, Neocutis Bio-Gel, Photozyme Ultra-Rich Cream, and Alchime Skin Repair Gel.

To purchase products in time for the holidays call her office 212-288-6133 or email scheduling@lewisdermatology.com

Click to follow Dr. Amy B. Lewis on IG

Exquisite Holiday Wine Gifts from E. Guigal & Juve & Camps

Since it was first made in 1972, Gran Juvé has always been an emblematic Cava, representing the best of Juvé & Camps. Categorized as “Brut” with just 5g/l of dosage, it is only produced in exceptional vintages and is made using the best quality grapes from select vineyard plots. Aged in the bottle for about 42 months, it showcases the intensity and complexity that Cava can achieve. Hints of white flowers and stone fruit are followed by notes of a long-aged cava: brioche, toasted flavors, spices, and honey. Chardonnay contributes to the creamy mouthfeel and the Xarel.lo to the elegance and long finish. Exquisitely balanced, this dry cava is expressive, intense, complex, and fresh, a harmony of endless sensations.

Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Familia Gran Reserva 2017

A winegrowing family for over 200 years, Juvé first started producing sparkling wines under their name in 1921. This family-owned, 100% estate-based producer is revered in Spain for its painstaking focus on quality and sustainability.“Reserva de la Familia” (translating to ‘Reserve of the Family’) is the leading Gran Reserva in the world, always vintage-dated, and all the more notable because of the quality needed to produce it without dosage (‘Brut Nature’ designation). Deep, intense and elegant, initially evokes notes of ripe white fruits followed by hints of fennel, toast, and citrus to complete its distinguished aroma. Its creamy mousse is perfectly integrated in the palate, making its texture in the mouth simultaneously fresh, rounded, and evocative.

Tea Forte’s Warming Joy Collection

Tea is our office staple. Some love their coffee, for Downtown we prefer tea. A much more relaxing way to wake up or unwind. It’s more of an experience, a ritual, far more than just brewing. Many prepare just the perfect cup of tea individually, for some it’s the rich cream and the perfect amount of raw sugar first then the pour-in Tea Forte’s steeped tea. While others go all-natural, with lemon, and honey, regardless of your process, be sure to ask for Tea Forte this holiday season, or this could be added to your very own list!

This holiday season, be sure to open the lid to reveal a tea menu and a collection of 20 pyramid infusers in five blends, including Raspberry Ganache, Harvest Apple Spice, Winter Chai, Rum Raisin Biscotti, Spiced Ginger Plum, or our Publisher’s favorite the classics, like English Breakfast, Earl Gray, or Estate Darjeeling.

The Scrumptious Side Sleeper Pillow

Every person is unique, we each sleep in different positions. Are you a side or back sleeper? Have you heard that traditional rectangular pillows aren’t designed to support our neck and shoulders perfectly no matter what position we happen to sleep in? We’ve heard this from both our physical therapist and medical doctors, there is more and more research about having the best pillow to match your body. This unique curve from the side sleeper pillow by Honeydew does just that, it supports your neck and shoulders whether you are on your side or your back and offers proper neck alignment and support. Give yourself the gift of healthy sleep, or if you are feeling generous, get one for the entire family!

All Body by Honeydew Pillow

Are you like most people, rolling up a towel, or placing an extra pillow between your knees? Sleeping with a pillow between your knees dramatically improves spinal alignment and promotes sleeping on your side, which helps to lessen tossing and turning throughout the night and significantly improves breathing. This can greatly reduce or even eliminate snoring, and also provides tremendous relief for those who suffer from sleep apnea. Also, hugging has been found to release oxytocin and serotonin in your body. Simply put, snuggling up with a body pillow at night can lower your heart rate and reduce stress levels. This promotes a sense of comfort and peace that will improve the quality of sleep.

Have you ever wanted to remove some stuffing from your pillow? Honeydew’s fill is the most important part of your new pillow. It literally took years of prototypes and testing before they found that oh-so-perfect blend of materials, in just the right ratio, allowing for the perfect combination of support and softness. All Honeydew pillows have a discreetly hidden zipper that lets you add or remove fill to make sure your new pillow is the perfect height for your body.

Wagz Freedom Smart Dog Collar

This no-shock system uses sound and vibration instead, to redirect your dog, and also provides daily health insights. Knows your dog’s location using real-time GPS tracking. Use the collar together with the Wagz app.

BodyBoss 2.0 System

This is New York City, so space is a premium. Grab this all-in-one home gym and maximize space while you max out your routine. 

Hydrating hair care essentials are all bundled up in a neoprene pouch, perfect for anyone on your list.

Now, don’t think that this scrumptious Bali Body tanning oil is for eating because it smells just like watermelon. But you can achieve a deep natural tan with this hydrating, natural oil. It’s one of the best we have ever tried. ​Enriched with watermelon seed extract to naturally enhance melanin while leaving you smelling fruity fresh. Say hello to the ultimate summer essential!

Simply one of Downtown’s favorite brands. Try this lovely Bali Body self-tanning kit. This brand never uses drying and damaging sulfates, phthalates or parabens, (unlike 98.9% of beauty products!). They love all furry friends, which makes Bali Body 100% vegan and cruelty-free. These are just some of our editor’s favorites.

Old Fashioned 6 Quart Vintage Wood Bucket Electric Maker Machine

Take summer into the school year (or anywhere) with this premium ice cream maker from Elite Gourmet.

Brio Ultra HD Pro Business Webcam

If we’ve learned anything about our jobs this last year and a half, it’s the importance of a reliable webcam. The Brio Ultra has what you need for a simple, clear look.

Philips NeoPix Easy 2+, True HD Projector with Built-in Media Player

With streaming services taking the movies to your home, the Philips NeoPix takes your home to the movies. Sit back and relax with hi-def visuals and enjoy your homemade popcorn.

iON Wireless Duo Fast Charging Stand + Pad

Bedside cords be gone! Clean up your tables, counters, and desks with a wireless charging stand for family and friend devices.   

Wawona P6

The insulated, spacious built-in vestibule makes it feel more like a home than a tent, perfect for family adventures.

An American Renaissance

Celebrate the beauty of New York City with a book full of big apple architecture associated with the Gilded Age.

Royalty Candles

Tom Dixon’s Eclectic family of scents make for a stunning impression in Brass, Copper, and Stainless Steel hand-spun vessels.

19 Crimes Snoop Cali Red

19 Crimes Snoop Cali Red

Bring Snoop Dog home for the holidays with this delicious red or rose. These delicious wines are bold and strong in character, full body. Cali Rose is ever so ripe with strawberry notes along with delicate floral and rose petal aromas. Fruit-forward notes of fresh raspberry, strawberry, and red cherry.

Their Chardonnay is filled with stone fruit aromas and a sweet textured palate. On the nose, notes of peaches & cream and spicy oak are carried onto the palate and supported by a creamy and criminally intense backbone. This full-bodied, powerful wine finishes with rich notes of butterscotch and spice.

It would be a crime not to add to one’s holiday list!

Grey Goose Lunar Eclipse Cocktail Kit

Bring some extra cheer to the holidays with the ultimate in elegant cocktail kits created in partnership with Italian design factory Alessi.

EVOLVh Smartcurl

Pick up on one of the fastest-growing hair-care brands with EVOLVh, a pioneer in clean haircare products for that perfect look, free from guilt and chemical additives.

Sensate 2

Find relaxation at the speed of sound with specially composed sessions and soundscapes to fit your daily need.

Smart Home Diffuser

The cutting edge in sensory experience is brought to life through the collaboration of two high-profile Italian luxury companies.

Looking for something new and different this year? Try this one-of-a-kind, portable, and unbreakable barrel that keeps NEFT cold for up to 6 hours in any season.

While the barrel may be the hook, it’s the extremely smooth taste that sets NEFT apart from any other vodka. Perfect for holiday gifting or anyone who wants to up their spirits game, NEFT will make an unexpected and luxurious gift to nearly everyone on your list.

NEFT’s exceptionally pure taste is created using the cleanest, all-natural ingredients: oxygen rich-spring water that has been filtered for 50 years far beneath the Rhaetian Alps of Austria, and four non-GMO rye grains farmed in Lower Saxony, Amato, Askari, Pollino, and Rasant. Inherently low in dissolved salts and ions, the naturally filtered water and ancient rye grains were carefully selected to develop a vodka where the ingredients are meant to be tasted.

The LARQ Bottle

The LARQ Bottle is the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle and water purification system. It uses UV-C LED light to eliminate up to 99.9999% of bio-contaminants from your water and bottle.

Cadanz by Kerbedanz 41mm

Combining a high level of detail, geometry, and unexpected aesthetics, this line is the perfect accessory for setting the pace of your everyday life.

Dewar’s

Dewar’s Discovery Pack shines a light on their signature double aging process, resulting in an extra smooth taste.

The pack is comprised of Dewar’s 12, 15, and 18-year bottles, perfect for intimate tastings or getting creative with cocktails.

Santa Teresa 1796

From the oldest Venezuelan rum brand, Santa Teresa 1796 is one of the first super-premium rums to employ the Solera Method, an artisanal processing method featuring a blend of light, heavy, and pot still rums aged 4 to 35 years. Santa Teresa 1796 features a palate that hearkens back to scotch and whisky, with notes of tobacco, leather, molasses, and dark chocolate. Packaged in a stylish value pack accompanied by the limited-edition Cantinero Coffee Bitters created by renowned bartender Julio Cabrera.

Holiday Dreams Candle & Diffuser Combo

Holiday Dreams’ a perfect gift for someone special on your list. The scent evokes your fondest holiday memories, a lovely balance of freshly cut evergreen and sweet spiced cider simmering on the stove. The beautiful gold jars for both the candle and the diffuser are a Limited Edition treat that adds a kiss of luxury to your holiday décor.  

This year it’s all about Sicily for wines. Sicily is the perfect region for growing grapes with high-quality potential. Through ancestral rituals, refined from generation to generation, Sicilian winemakers have increasingly developed a culture of excellence through the enhancement of the island’s indigenous varieties. To date, more than 60 varieties are grown in Sicily, of which about 20 are indigenous. Assovini Sicilia is an association of Sicilian winemakers that brings together over 91 wine companies to promote the quality of Sicilian wine around the world.

The Scent of ORVEDA 

This Holiday season, infuse your home with The Scent of ORVEDA. The leader in Biotec is a brand that is kind to the skin, kind to society, and kind to the environment. The candle trio is sweet, yet tart, woody notes derived from petitgrain bigarade add an initial crisp feel, with middle notes of green cardamom erupting before a fresh and earthy base. Hand-crafted and hand-poured in Italy by the finest artisans, this candle set is vegan and 100% compostable.

Maison Ladurée

Maison Ladurée presents its new advent calendar containing a selection of irresistible treats for everyone to enjoy counting the days to Christmas with something sweet.

Keebos

Made for those who love to combine style with functionality.  Ever misplaced, lost, or dropped your phone? Just place your iPhone into the sleek crossbody phone case and start wearing your phone crossbody or as a necklace.

Ben Ryé 2019 offers an extraordinary rich bouquet with outstanding aromas obtained from dried grapes: apricots and candied orange peel. On the palate, it offers countless sensations that sweep from fruity scents to delicate hints of scrub Mediterranean offering an extraordinary freshness that balances the sweetness. Its complexity is enriched by a savory and very persistent finish.

https://www.instagram.com/assovinisicilia/

Pantelleria has been inscribed with UNESCO.

Cerasuolo Di Vittoria D.O.C.G Classico

Aroma: ripe hints of red fruits, blackberries, raspberries, and cherries, hints of spices including vanilla, licorice, and cocoa. Flavor: soft, full, velvety tannins, persistent and aromatic. Best paired with: aged DOP Ragusano cheese, complicated and spiced dishes like chicken curry, game pâté, lamb, and rabbit.

https://www.instagram.com/assovinisicilia/

Categories
Beauty Featured Health

Summer Beauty Bag: Hair and Skin

Photo by Drew Graham on Unsplash
Photo by Drew Graham on Unsplash

It is easy to get caught up in the abyss of beauty products, especially in the summer. We’re here to help you narrow it down to the bare necessities for your beauty bag. Nurture your hair and skin this summer with only the best and hottest products of this summer season.

Hair

Olaplex.com

Olaplex proves that it is the leading brand in keeping split-ends out of our hair with its No.7 bonding oil. This product is small yet mighty. The 1oz bottle is made to last and is a true jack of all trades. It increases shine, smoothness, promotes growth, and provides UV/heat protection at up to 450°F/232°C.

LivingProof.com

This frizz spray is Living Proof that smooth hair in the summer is attainable. We have all been there.  After all, it’s summer. Humidity is at an all-time high, and all you can do is pray that your locks will stay smooth. Pray no more with Living Proof’s No Frizz Humidity shield! This miracle spray also smells to-die-for. Talk about a hair double whammy.

Skin

SolDeJaneiro.com

This luxurious body cream is an absolute must-have for summer. It is buttery soft, skin tightening (thanks to the caffeine-rich guarana), and addictively delicious smelling. 

  • Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Berry $22

Laneige.com

This Allure 2019 Best of Beauty Award Winner proves its worth as the best lip product for summer. Slather this luxurious lip mask on overnight to diminish dryness and fine lines, or just to treat yourself. 

SundayRiley.com

Sunday Riley puts good genes in a bottle – literally – with this fantastic lactic acid treatment. Good Genes leaves the skin feeling decadent yet weightless as it exfoliates and clarifies. Not to mention, Sunday Riley products are all entirely cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, soy-free, phthalate-free, fragrance-free, and vegan!

BaliBody.com

Ladies and gents, meet the tanning oil that will have you tossing out those greasy brown bottles. Bali Body is truly the best in the business. This watermelon tanning oil is compact, sweet-smelling, mess-free, all-natural, and features different levels of SPF. The formula is enriched with watermelon seed extract to naturally get you that bronzed summer color.

  • Yes To Cucumbers Daily Eye Treatment $9.99 and Calming Facial Wipes $5.99

YesTo.com

You may know Yes To from their edible-inspired beauty products – namely their sheet masks that decorate the aisles of your local drug store. Introducing their new Yes To Cucumbers Daily Eye Treatment. Skip slicing up your salad ingredients and use this super smooth and soothing eye cream fit for sensitive skin. The formula is buttery soft, smells so refreshing, and will leave your under eyes feeling cool as a cucumber.

YesTo.com

Want more cukes in your daily routine? Try out the Yes To Cucumbers calming facial wipes. Much like their eye cream counterpart, these wipes are equally as soothing and equipped to treat sensitive skin. Skip that rough burning sensation that other facial wipes ail you with. Oh, and get this: these wipes are plant-based and compostable under both municipal and home conditions! That’s huge news people!

Scent

  • Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum For Her 1.0oz $76

Gucci.com

Gucci’s fan-favorite Eau de parfum, “Bloom”  is perfect for summer. Complete with notes of Rangoon creeper, jasmine bud, and tuberose.

And that’s it, summer babes! Grab your favorite beauty bag and head to your next destination with these in your holster.

For more Downtown beauty, click here.