Author: Word of Mouth City

Sometimes the most innovative solutions to problems are derived from one’s own experiences. Diana Seo was a young woman struggling with adult acne. She tried every product she could get her hands on, but her condition only got worse.

Frustrated with the status quo of skin care routines, she started researching the science behind everything she was doing wrong, paying particular attention to the ingredients in her products.  Her degree in Biophysics, combined with an interest in Ayurveda (holistic medicine), propelled Diana to take a different approach in her quest for answers.

She became obsessed, as she described it, with figuring out a way to find the balance between science and nature when it comes to skin care.  She continued her education, becoming a licensed aesthetician and earning a top international certification. In the process of solving her adult acne (she now has flawless skin) she discovered a new skin lab concept that addresses another issue — one that affects everyone — the inevitable onset of age.

For many, myself included, the idea of Botox needles, lasers and other invasive procedures is not appealing.  However, at 44, I also know I’m not getting any younger and all the face creams in the world won’t change that.  Diana found a happy medium through collagen, the most abundant protein in the body.

Enter, the Collagenizer.  Think the Terminator for wrinkles. This method features something called Transdermal Electroporation, which uses the skin’s intercellular channels to promote transdermal delivery.  In layman’s terms?  It’s basically a magic wand!  As the name suggests, the Collagenizer machine works to restore collagen back to optimal levels and improve skin elasticity.

Diana invited me in to try it out.  Prior to using the machine she applied a collagen based serum to my face which contains a medical grade of organic bovine collagen, along with hyaluronic acid.  If you’re thinking, “Cows and acid, oh my!” fear not.  Both of these items are commonly used in many things. In fact, unlike other collagen products, the cows even live free-range in the Napa Valley region, producing the highest quality product.

The Collagenizer is used in conjunction with the serum, and is followed up with a vitamin C cream.  Diana explained how everything worked throughout the process, answering my numerous questions and educating me along the way.  The technology was first used to treat cancer patients, until they later discovered the added skin care benefits.

The machine felt a little strange at first, like I was the Bride of Frankenstein with little electrical pulses going through my face and expanding my hair.  At least that’s the image I had of myself laying in the doctor’s chair.  But once I adjusted it was a seamless experience and one that I would have no problem repeating.  Diana suggested weekly treatments over five to six weeks, followed by monthly maintenance. Depending on your skin type and collagen deficiency, the results last up to a year.

This is the CliffsNotes version. For more in-depth information, or to try it out yourself, visit The Collagen Bar.  The facility, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, was welcoming and pristine. Diana’s expertise is impressive and I felt very comfortable entrusting her with my skin.

Her motto: “Nourish your body with balance and beauty” aligns with my lifestyle and I felt right at home.  So for those of us not comfortable with injections and plastic surgery, this is another alternative to aging gracefully.  

I sat perched on the windowsill next to my mom’s vanity as she applied makeup and styled her hair. The smell of hot rollers and Aqua Net hung in the air, as a black and white television crackled the morning newscast in the background.

I watched in awe as she transformed her eyes, mouth, cheekbones and hair. In between sips of coffee I saw her change from gentle to powerful, a force of femininity and confidence. She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen and I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.

That was the 70’s.

During High School in the 80’s I purchased all the same beauty products that my mother owned. I learned from her and there was something about the daily ritual of preparation and removal that bonded us. In my eyes she was a warrior queen passing on her beauty secrets to her princess apprentice.

Many years later as an adult I continued to use those same products (minus the rollers and hairspray, bye 80’s!) not for any other reason than they reminded me of my mother. I’m sure many fathers and sons experience something similar when it comes to shaving products. Old Spice comes to mind with my own dad.

This got me thinking about our emotional connection to brands and how we sometimes make product choices for nostalgic reasons, not necessary informed ones. I had no idea what parabens or other potentially harmful ingredients even were and had always just assumed if mom used it, it was safe. But mom didn’t know either.

With the emergence of indie brands that put an emphasis on cleaner ingredients, not to mention environmentally sensitive packaging, consumers are becoming more educated, which provides the next generation of moms an opportunity to improve the status quo and pass down better information to their daughters. Ditto, dads.

Everything has a learning curve. My mom put me in a laundry basket full of towels and strapped it in place with a seat belt in the car. That was the car seat of the 70’s. We have evolved.

Plastics are my generation’s version of cigarettes. We didn’t consider the chemicals we were absorbing each time we nuked a container of leftovers in the microwave, until the government started putting numbers on them and issuing reuse warnings. We threw plastic water bottles away with the ease of a flicked cigarette butt, paying no mind to the fact they aren’t easily biodegradable and will last hundreds of years in landfills.

As individuals, and not just moms and dads, it’s our responsibility to be good stewards of the environment and share the knowledge that comes with time and innovation. The Indie Beauty Expo provides an effective platform to disseminate that information, be it through new product introductions or continuing the conversation about our relationship with the most important mother of all, Mother Earth.

What do today’s business leaders look like? In an era swept up by the frenetic pace of technology and a social media dominant culture, there is a certain nostalgia for the past. A time where people communicated over Glenfiddich instead of text. Where they looked you in the eye throughout an entire meeting, instead of being distracted by the incoming pings from their various devices and computers.

It was a time where personal presentation carried a certain weight and gentlemen dressed with class. The attire embodied an elegant intelligence and appeared effortless, dignified, and undeniably confident.

Vesture recaptures this bygone era with it’s specialized tailored menswear services. Located in a private studio above the hustle and bustle of 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan, clients immediately feel at home in the subdued setting. This isn’t your typical shopping experience. This isn’t even shopping.

Owners Nader Naeymi-Rad and Franco Salhi sought to create a service that delivers impeccable quality, while at the same time building a relationship with clients over their wardrobe management. This is actually how the two met.

“We met over a decade ago, and as my role at my company grew, he taught me how to dress,” explains the flawlessly attired Naeymi-Rad. “That sounds really simple, but I started to recognize the importance of image, especially when I became CEO. I came to really trust him and rely on his counsel. I benefitted greatly, both professionally and personally.”

Salhi, whose deft craftsmanship is sought by clients the world over, was formerly U.S. Brand Ambassador and Director of Business Development and manager of Ermenegildo Zegna. The two became partners after Naeymi-Rad left his company. “I felt there wasn’t really a place men could go to get the individualized customer service and attention to detail that busy individuals like myself required,” says Naeymi-Rad. “Vesture isn’t SuitSupply nor is it in-store tailoring. It’s private, discreet, and relaxed. Let’s face it, most men find outfitting burdensome, even overwhelming. We make the process seamless, while also enjoyable,” he says with a friendly demeanor.

Judging from the refined tastes of both gentlemen (the studio has an impressive art collection thanks to a partnership with Pace Gallery) you can be rest assured you’ll be in expert hands. As a result of Mr. Salhi’s reputation, the two have access to fabrics from the likes of Pal Zileri, Isaia, among many others. When I inquired about the heavy hitters they’ve worked with, Salhi replied with a guarded smile, “We have been very fortunate to outfit some of New York’s hardest working gentlemen.” Some independent research later revealed Vesture has hosted industry titans such as Roger Goodell, Matt Lauer, Bill Hemmer, and Alec Baldwin.

While speaking with the gentlemen on the balcony of their Vesture studio suite and listening to the subtle shifts of ice in my single malt scotch and Miles Davis crooning in the background, I was taken back to that era and felt a bit like James Bond or Cary Grant. That’s when I realized the Vesture magic was already working.

Every flash
exhales a story
inside a frame
outside our lives

Interpretation
of what we see
always different
through other eyes

Seeing something
once removed
yet standing closer
to a moment that happened
when we weren’t there

Feeling an element
of what it was
might have been
we’ll never really know
but still create for ourselves

The beauty of language
that nobody learns
speaks in silence
we all hear

Pictures bring us in
keep us distant
experiencing what isn’t
our own reality
but somehow understanding
another one
in another way

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Valentine’s Day is almost upon us. I’m a lover, but this holiday has always annoyed me a little because it feels somewhat forced and predictable.  I’ve never liked doing something just because everyone else is, and I guess that’s why the expectation of this day gets to me. (I’m working on that)

There are the obvious gifts: a dozen roses, jewelry, perhaps a nice tie.

And then there are the creative gifts that one remembers long after the flowers wilt and the tie goes out of style.  These are the gifts that have their story told over and over and leave an impression.

Anyone can give a card, but how about a card that turns into a beautiful plant to remember the person by? Botanical PaperWorks is one of many companies that offer biodegradable cards made with seeds that can be planted afterwards. Recycling just got a lot more romantic!

If your gift is for someone you’ve had in your life at least a year, gather all the photographs that chronicle your time together and make a calendar. Attach a memory to each month, like birthdays, holidays, vacations, or even just fun times together. Upload the photos to Shutterfly and then follow the easy instructions on how to make a personalized calendar.

If you live together, consider ordering custom-made fortune cookies with your own personalized messages that you can leave on his or her plate after dinner. There are several places that offer this service, including Fancy Fortune Cookies. Prices vary depending on how many and what kind you order.

Think of a bunch of words that describe your partner. Write them on postcards and mail them at random. It will be a nice surprise amidst the bills and other junk mail.

Lastly, sometimes it’s not the grand overtures that make the biggest impression, but the little things that come in unexpected packages. For example, send your partner to get a massage or see a movie with a friend. While they are gone clean the house or complete a nagging task. They will come home already feeling grateful, and then to see the entire place has been cleaned or something fixed will put them over the top. For other ideas check out The Romantic.

Being romantic doesn’t have to come with a huge price tag, just a little imagination!

Every Christmas my mom bakes poppy seed cakes, a family tradition passed down from my father’s Polish roots. Poppy seeds are oilseeds that come from the poppy plant and are packed with nutrients. They’re also gnarly little buggers when they get caught in your teeth.  These tiny black seeds, however, might be the answer to a problem much larger than not having floss or a toothpick on hand.

A few years ago a friend was visiting from out of town and brought a product I’d never used before.  It was called Clean & Clear Morning Burst Facial Cleanser by Johnson & Johnson.  I loved it.  The last thing I’m doing in the morning is bursting, and this product lived up to it’s name. It had these tiny beads that exfoliated my skin and smelled amazing.  They had a new customer.

So you can imagine my surprise a few years later when I learned what those beads actually were and how they’re damaging our environment. I went from bursting to deflated. 

In short, microbeads are tiny particles of plastic that are used in numerous beauty products. They flow down the drain after we wash our face and since they’re so small, wastewater treatment plants are not equipped to filter them. They’re also not biodegradable and once they enter the ocean they’re impossible to remove.  Fish and other marine life ingest them and they’re essentially passed along the food chain and could likely end up back with us on our dinner plates. If this toxic cycle keeps repeating who knows how it will impact our health and the health of the planet in years to come.

I was a Johnson & Johnson baby and grew up using their products, always believing that such a large reputable company would be ethical and responsible. I trusted them. I no longer use their products or any others that contain microbeads. You’d be surprised how many do (a pdf list here) and can find more information at Beat the Microbead and 5Gyres.

This brings me back to my mom’s poppy seed cakes.  Despite my disappointment with companies like Johnson & Johnson for bursting my bubble by using microbeads, I was relieved to find that others have come up with alternatives.

One such brand is Jillian Wright Skincare.  She offers an exfoliating scrub that uses poppy seeds instead of microbeads, which achieves the same desired effect without using plastics. Not only is her product biodegradable, so is her packaging. Each box contains wildflower seeds that can be planted after use. Now that’s the kind of stuff I’d rather be putting back into the environment. Flowers, a better morning burst! 

We’ve all wanted to find that perfect gift for someone. The kind that causes eyes to widen, jaws to drop, and arms to reach out.

I’ll never forget the Christmas my father made me a sailboat out of a walnut shell, toothpick and a little piece of paper folded into a triangle. He put it in a glass jar with some sand, pebbles and shells we collected at the beach that summer. The beach was a sentimental place for us and I had a lot of fond memories exploring the shoreline and sailing with him. They were our treasure hunts and ocean adventures.

That was the Christmas there wasn’t too much under the tree, but his gift taught me it’s not what’s in the box that makes something special, it’s the person handing you the box. It also sparked my imagination and I started thinking about capturing the essence of expression through the creative process.

When I became an adult and friends started having babies, I didn’t want to just give them typical baby clothes. I wanted my gifts to reflect something more personal and intimate, connecting them to their own childhood. So I started reconstructing baby clothes after their favorite books from when they were growing up.

I also started writing and illustrating books to help their kids with various issues they were trying to overcome, be it a fear of the dark and monsters under the bed, to bullying at school. I realized the “art of the gift” could be anything, it just had to come from my hands.

In a world overcome with the latest gadgetry and multiple media distractions, it’s important to slow down and live in real time. Making something from scratch forces us to do that. It requires thought, time and creative energy. It’s not instant like clicking “purchase” in an online checkout. It says, “I’m making time for you,” which so many of us take for granted in our busy lives.

My father took the time to make that tiny sailboat which beautifully captured our cherished memories, and I remembered it long after I outgrew my childhood toys.

The inaugural Indie Beauty Expo (IBE) last summer in NYC featured 80 incredible brands.  I had less than two hours to visit as many as possible. It was like being on that game show where you’re given ten minutes and a shopping cart.  Limited time and so many options!  Afterwards, as I emptied the goodie bag on my living room floor, I felt like a kid on Halloween as numerous samples poured out. Despite having a sweet tooth for products, I didn’t know where to begin.

That’s why the Best in Show awards was so helpful. The panel of judges, comprised of six beauty industry experts, brought my attention to the winners among the winners. Everyone at iBE was worthy of recognition, but these brands earned special top honors. I had the opportunity to speak with Marie Watkinson, chairperson of the evaluation committee, to find out why.

She said all the finalists had so much passion it was hard to choose.  There were really no losers, just those that were able to better captivate the judges, either with their backstory, creative solution to a problem, or overall enthusiasm and demonstrated understanding of the indie brand philosophy.

Watkinson, founder of Spa Chicks on the Go, has more than 20 years of experience in the beauty, spa and wellness industry.  The other judges that made up the “dream team” included, Jeannie Jarnot of Beauty Heroes, Cheryl Kramer Kaye of Shape Magazine, Andrea Nagel of CEW, Jessica Richards of Shen Beauty and celebrity makeup artist, Cynde Watson.

So what made the winners stand out?

Vegan Meets Luxury

Watkinson explained how sometimes natural products aren’t viewed as luxury, which is why vegan nail polish line, LVX, won for best nail lacquer.  It defied assumptions by impressing the judges in both performance and packaging. “It looks luxurious, the color palate is sophisticated, and even the bottles themselves are chic.” She added that she was pleasantly surprised the 5-free line (free of the five toxic ingredients common in mainstream brands) held up to the chip test against its more toxic competitors.

Awakening Our Senses

Strange Invisible won in the fragrance category. Watkinson, who never cared for perfume, described being mesmerized by this line. During the expo she was drawn to the mysterious booth and started sampling. “The scent is absolutely intriguing. They sourced natural ingredients from all over the world.” Her experience had only been with synthetic scents, so this brand resonated with her. She said finding Strange Invisible was the cherry on the iBE cake and made her fall in love with perfume.

Masks Making a Difference

NUGG, one of the winners in the face mask category, solves the problem of your products going bad. Since we don’t use face masks every day, or even every week, months can pass and, just like food, the ingredients spoil. NUGG is single use so each mask is fresh. Watkinson points out another problem NUGG solves is that our skin is constantly changing depending on the time of year or what’s going on in our lives. You can purchase them singularly or in multi-packs that offer a variety of options that cater to different skin care needs. This convenience made them winners, but they also earned points for charity. A portion of the proceeds go to Cancer and Careers, which strives to eliminate fear and uncertainty for working people with cancer.

An Indie Classic

Farmaesthetics is an example of a well-developed and mature indie brand that has perfected the simple basics. In fact, they are so good at what they do, they almost make it look easy. With a wealth of experience in the category (they launched in 1999), they have worked hard to carefully develop their collection in a way that is compelling, consistent and well executed. From their packaging to the way they source their ingredients, their whole platform is a commitment to clean and green beauty. It’s no wonder they were nominated in numerous categories and won for sustainability.

Break-Out Brand

EU2BE, enrich + emolliate oil, won in the body category. The packaging doesn’t necessarily stand out, but the founder does. Charla Jones is her brand. She’s got a great back story and after visiting her website and blog you can’t help but be inspired and curious to try her products. Her brand is named after her aunt Eugenia and she’s traveled the world exploring numerous cultures to source her ingredients, things you wouldn’t imagine, like broccoli seed oil… another way to get your veggies!

Watkinson said a lot of brands claim they’re all-natural, but do they really work on your skin?  After using EU2BE she now has it in her shower. She introduced it to a friend with sensitive skin and chronic fatigue syndrome and said it made a noticeable impact. “EU2BE embodies everything that indie is and we welcome this newcomer to our growing community.”

Future of Indie Beauty

I asked Watkinson where she sees the indie beauty industry headed: Temporary trend or trailblazer? “It’s in a renaissance period and people like Jillian Wright, one of the founders, are leaders of that renaissance educating and inspiring others with their brand stories.”

She pointed out that IBE was more than an expo, but rather a movement that’s gaining momentum.  People are becoming more aware about what they’re putting on their skin, how exposure to chemicals in mainstream brands are getting into the bloodstream, how ingredients are sourced and extracted, and what sustainable packaging means for the environment. In other words, people are learning how indie brands can improve our lives and community.

Mentioned are just a few of the brands that won Best in Show. There were a total of 15 winners and we’ll be doing profiles on more of them in the months leading up to the next IBE.

Happy, Healthy Pampering!