Fashiontribes Life & Style

Blog, blog, blog...

2007-06-25T22:46:11-04:00

It seems like everyone and his mother has their own blog. Much more than just an online diary, blog topics cover everything from politics and social issues to discussions about film and TV. Here at FashionTribes we not only discuss fashion, but movies, makeup and music as well as an assortment of other interesting topics. But we're not the only kids on the block, so I thought it might be fun to share a handful of my favorite blogs and bloggers with you:

1. Things I've Bought that I Love - You know her as Kelly Kapoor on The Office, but Mindy Kaling is not only a comic actress and TV writer/producer, she's an avid shopper as well. She and her friends blog about their coolest purchases at http://mindyephron.blogspot.com/

2. Celebritology - There are gossip blogs galore, but few do it with as much class and panache as Liz Kelly of The Washington Post. Whether it's dissecting the latest episode of Lost, weighing in on Britney's most recent shenanigans or compiling a new Friday list, this is definitely a site to bookmark if you love gossip but wouldn't be caught dead buying a tabloid! http://blog.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/ For more "insider" Hollywood gossip, The Defamer is like the online version of Entourage.

3. As a writer, I tend to gravitate towards writer's blogs. A few of my faves are Ken Levine's who dishes on American Idol as well as recounting his days writing Cheers, M.A.S.H. and Frasier, The Artful Writer, which focuses on the craft and business of writing and is hosted by Craig Mazin (Scary Movie 3 and 4) and Ted Elliot (Pirate of the Caribbean, Shrek) and Bill Martell's Sex in a Submarine which gives priceless insight into the life of a working screenwriter.

4. Last but not least is fashionista and trendsetter Stevie Wilson's L.A. Story blog. Focusing on Southern California as a lifestyle and state of mind rather than a destination, Stevie blogs about fashion, music, skincare, shopping, spas--you name it! If it's new and hip and to die for--she already knows about it and has blogged about it--trust me! Check it out at http://www.la-story.com/

Stella Louise

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Skin Care Basics--what you don't know can hurt your skin! FashionTribes Life & Style Skin and Spa report!

2007-06-20T22:57:25-04:00

How many times have we heard that we must learn to crawl before we can learn to walk? Well, this is true in every arena of life and definitely when it comes to caring for the skin--so before you can graduate to deciphering the saturated shelves lined with beauty products you have to first learn how to properly wash, dry, exfoliate and moisturize your skin. Believe me when I tell you that a large majority of my clients don’t even know how to properly wash their face, so no matter how much you cleanse, moisturize and apply your SPF, if you are doing it wrong your skin will show for it.

Washing Your Face - When it comes to cleansing almost everyone I meet is doing it wrong. Healthy glowing skin starts with proper cleansing. To begin, one must wash the face every evening. No ifs, ands or buts about it. The skin, after a day of living, is dirty with environmental toxins, makeup and product, dust, dirt and pollution. Sleeping with that night after night will congest the skin thus preventing healthy excretion of toxins and secretion of protective oils, leaving skin lackluster and sallow. Wash the face for a full minute, not five seconds, not thirty, but a full minute, making sure to spend extra time around the chin, nose and ear area. Also this is the time to get in a 30 second or more massage to wake up those muscles and get healthy circulation going, which in my expert opinion is the only thing aside from love that will make your skin truly glow. After the minute, follow with a thorough warm water rinse, at least 10 splashes to remove all cleanser and hydrate the surface of your skin. If your skin is tight and dry after washing your face then your cleanser is too harsh and this is unhealthy. Skin should always feel soft and comfortable after cleansing. Finally if you wear foundation or powder, you must wash twice to remove all make-up. First do a quick surface cleanse, then follow with a more thorough concentrated cleanse.

Drying Your Face – Before telling you what to do I am going to start by telling you what not to do. Do not rub your face completely dry and do not use a hand towel or bath towel in the bathroom that is being used on the body or that others are using for their hands. Getting those two things right will make a huge difference. Now What To Do: Always pat skin dry around the forehead and chin with a clean towel leaving most of that moisture on your skin. I recommend going to Target and buying a stack of 20 washcloths for $10 and using one of those every 2-3 days to dry your face. After the third day, put it in the laundry and use a new one. If you have acne or congested skin, this is a practice you need to pay special attention to.

Moisturizing Your Skin – Whether whole body or face it is essential that you always apply moisturizer to damp skin. The water will help draw your moisturizer in and your cream will spread more deliciously on the surface leaving you feeling silky soft. When it comes to skin, water and oil do mix. In fact they are best friends.

Exfoliating – The key is to never scrub and scour your skin. Always exfoliate with a light gentle hand and be thorough but quick, the goal is only to remove surface dead cells and unnecessary oils. Finally, rinse, pat dry and moisturize. Also do not exfoliate with a scrub every day, just once or twice a week and if you have acne – no scrubs, instead use hot towel compresses on just cleansed skin.

By following the basics you will immediately notice an improvement in your skin. Stay tuned for my next article where the focus will be on basic product knowledge and how making the right choices will help you attain the skin you desire. So get ready, gorgeous skin awaits you!

- Elisha Reverby

Elisha L. Reverby is a New York City native and is a CA And NY state licensed esthetician. She has been in the beauty industry for fifteen years, primarily in product development, which led her to create Elique Organic Skin Food, her own line of fresh food and herb based skin care. As well, Elisha divides her time educating the public on the dangers of mass produced skin and body care and operating Get Waxed, her new eco-friendly waxing studio in Venice, CA right off of Abbot Kinney Boulevard. To contact Elisha you can email her at elisha@eliqueskinandspa.com or call her at 310.396.2929.

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New on DVD--"Miss Potter" available June 19th!!!

2007-06-12T21:15:35-04:00

"Miss Potter" the story of Beatrix Potter, beloved author of children's books such as "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," is dramatized in this sweet, gentle film directed by Chris Noonan ("Babe") and starring Renee Zellweger (in the title role), Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson. Part historical depiction of the manners and mores of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, part love story and part artist's journey, this movie is the anti-thesis of the usual Hollywood offering. To be certain, the starched collars and stiff upper lips of the early 1900s will seem unbelievably chaste to most viewers, but fans of Merchant/Ivory or Jane Austen will appreciate the sweet romance.

Zellweger puts on her best British accent again as the slightly eccentric spinster who falls in love with her publisher played by McGregor with earnest appeal. The costumes and sets are flawless and the rural English countryside is breathtaking.

Potter was the J. K. Rowling of her day--wildly popular among children of all ages and earning buckets of money from her stories. Her tender tales of rabbits and ducks and reflect her passionate interest at an early age for all creatures. Her detailed illustrations are captured and even come to life in the film--illuminating her imagination and how involved she was in her creations. In addition to her artistic endeavors, Potter was an avid nature conservationist. Upon her death she willed 4,000 acres of land to the National Trust

The movie captures pieces of her childhood inspirations and the process of bringing her creature characters to life. But more importantly, it chronicles the life of an artist who was able to go well beyond the constraints of her gender remain true to her heart and to live an independent life. In her time, this was an accomplishment more fantastic than anything experienced by Peter Rabbit!

Stella Louise

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"Get Waxed" wants you to give a Yelp! FashionTribes Life & Style alert for a cool June promo!

2007-06-07T14:26:57-04:00

OK L.A. Girls--brand new eco-friendly waxing studio Get Waxed in Venice wants you to yelp! No, not from the actual WAXING (although let's face it--it's not exactly painless!), but about the studio and its services. Have you had the Get Waxed experience--where cleanliness is next to godliness and there's NEVER any double-dipping? Then get yourself to yelp.com, write a review and receive a complimentary service which includes basic bikini, lip, brow shaping, brow tinting or underarm waxing.

Haven't experienced Get Waxed which uses signature touches to calm skin and treat ingrown hairs? Then this is the month to do it! Not only is bikini-season upon us, but Get Waxed is having a sweepstakes! For every visit in June, you will be entered to win one of three great prizes--including a Grand Prize of an entire SUMMER of FREE WAXING!

Get thee to Get Waxed in June and, even if you don't win the sweepstakes, write a review for Yelp! and you'll still receive a complimentary service. For more information, check out the Get Waxed website and happy waxing (and "yelping") to you!

Stella Louise

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Kid tested, kid approved! FashionTribes Life & Style gets tips from a toddler at "Emma Recommends"

2007-06-04T23:54:34-04:00

Adorable isn't she? But not only is 17 month-old Emma a future heartbreaker, she's present day trendsetter. She personally tests all kinds of kid toys, clothes, books, etc. and posts her favorites on her website, Emma Recommends.

Well, actually the posting is done by proud mommy Heather Hope-Allison, but Emma does make her opinions known about the coolest baby accoutrements. In addition to Emma's recommendations on books, toys and clothes, there's a section where you can send in your favorite baby's pic and their favorite thing!

So whether you are looking for the best products for your little one or for great gift ideas for baby showers, kid birthdays or what to get your little niece or nephew for Christmas, check out this cool kid's website for what babies REALLY love!

Stella Louise

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A Pirate's Life for Me! Fashiontribes Life & Style finds third time is still a charm At World's End.

2007-05-28T00:33:26-04:00

The third installment of the popular series based on the Disney theme park ride, At World's End ties up all the loose end left by Dead Man's Chest but leaves the door open just a crack for a potential fourth flick. Will there be further adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow? Johnny Depp has said he's willing to play the role indefinitely and box office returns--while not record-breaking as its predecessor--are strong. Most movies don't make in their entire run what Pirates III has managed to rack up in its first weekend.

The "finale" is darker, deeper and more complex than the first two films. Hidden agendas, secret alliances and shifting allegiances all weave together to form an intriguing tale. Will Jack Sparrow be rescued from Davy Jone's locker? Well, that's not in doubt since Depp features prominently in the marketing and trailers. Will Elizabeth and Will finally be united? Again, another no brainer. But while some of the outcomes are a foregone conclusion, the zig-zaggy plot takes us on quite a ride nonetheless.

All the favorite are back--Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley), Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgard)--as well as Norrington, Beckett, Gibbs, Ragetti and Pintel, Cotton and his parrot, the wenches and that cheeky monkey. In addition a number of new characters are introduced notably Chow Yun-Fat as the pirate Sao Feng and a cameo by Keith Richards as Jack's Dad.

All in all the movie would have benefited by some judicious editing--at a whopping 168 minutes it becomes more of a test of endurance than a thrill ride. Also some of the fight scenes are shot and edited in such a way that it's confusing to follow. At times the spectacle becomes an overwhelming sensory overload. But in the end, it's still a must-see. The plot is complicated but interesting, the dialogue sharp and witty, the acting top-notch, the special effects are stunning and the action sequences enthralling.

Kudos to Oscar-nominated writers (Shrek) Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio for the intricate and intriguing plot and plumbing the psychological depths of their characters. I've had the most enjoyable opportunity to meet Ted and Terry and I have to say that it would be difficult to find two nicer people in Hollywood. In addition to writing kick-ass scripts for blockbuster movies, they both devote a lot of time to mentoring aspiring screenwriters. Between their Wordplay website and the Artful Writer (Ted's web venture with writer Craig Mazin), they have selflessly shared their knowledge and experience.

If I had to grade the Pirates movies, it would be B plus for Curse of the Black Pearl, A minus for Dead Man's Chest and a solid B for At World's End. Whether At World's End is truly "the end" of the Pirates saga remains to be seen, but as it stands it's a worthy addition to the Pirate "canon."

Stella Louise

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Your Skin is starving--FEED IT!!! FashionTribes Life & Style checks out Elique's Organic Skin Food to Go--skincare that's good enough to eat!

2007-05-20T23:33:07-04:00

It turns out that the latest and greatest in skincare isn't a peptide or acid, a laser or injectible--it's honey and safflower oil and black molasses and almond meal. If this sounds more like a meal than a mask, you've entered the world of Elisha Reverby, founder of Elique and creator of a luscious line of skincare that is organic, handmade, customized and delivered within 48 hours of its preparation.

Reverby pours her 15 years of experience and research in skincare and ingredients--along with her heart and soul--into this enterprise. Part esthetician, part evangelist, Elisha is passionate about what goes into her products--because what goes into them ends up on her clients skin!

“Sixty percent of what goes onto our skin is absorbed into our bodies. People today are really conscious of eating organic and natural foods, but may not be aware of how many chemicals and toxins they are ingesting through the skin,” Reverby says. “In formulating Elique Organic Skin Food to Go, I only use organic, natural ingredients that are so pure you could eat them.”

I was fortunate enough to sample some of Elisha's handiwork--

Cake, a nourishing and skin softening cleanser made with almond meal, farmer's market honey and apple cider vinegar,

Smooth made certified organic rosehip, comfrey and calendula oils to create a perfect facial moisturizer and finally

Whipped, a a sumptuous cream perfect for dry skin and made with safflower oil infused in lavender, lavender hydrosol and beeswax.

My skin has been very dry, sensitive, irritated, red, rashy, itchy--well, you get the picture. But a mere three days since using these three simple products, it's calmer, no longer flaking, much healthier looking and feeling. I am amazed and I am SOLD! And you will be, too. Reasonably priced with the highest quality ingredients and packaged in recyclable and non-toxic glass jars, this simple and elegant line is now available to everyone via Elisha's website, Elique Skin and Spa.

In Elique Organic Skin Food to Go, Reverby has created an amazing line of products that are affordable, achieve results and are easily available via the internet. If you are concerned about your health and what you put into your body, you should also be aware of what you are putting ON your body. And thanks to Elisha Reverby and Elique, you can be sure what you are putting ON your body is safe, non-toxic and not only good for you and your skin, but good for the planet as well.

- Stella Louise

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Summer's coming--Get ready, get set, get WAXED!!! FashionTribes Life & Style explores eco-friendly "de-fuzzing"!!!

2007-05-19T22:41:12-04:00

Memorial Day heralds the beginning of summer and thoughts turn to sun, sand and skin. Lucky Angelenos now have a fabulous new option for getting their bodies bikini (or Speedo) ready. Get Waxed, the first eco-friendly waxing studio has arrived in Venice, CA! Located at 304 Westminster Avenue, near the famous Abbot-Kinney Blvd. and just blocks from Venice Beach--aahhh!!! That awesome ocean air...

With ocean-blue walls (using low VOC paint!) and white trim and accents, the small but sun-filled and airy space has a fresh, beachy vibe. Elisha Reverby, owner/esthetician, is committed to providing her customers with a superior waxing experience. Using a blend of wax from a special mixture of organic honey, lemon and sugar - and no harsh or toxic chemicals whatsoever, Reverby's trademark is that she never double-dips--an unhygienic and potentially dangerous practice. All waxing sticks are used once and only once!!! She also incorporates signature touches to calm inflamed skin and treat ingrown hairs.

In addition to her commitment to her clients, Reverby is committed to the environment. She recycles (but not by double-dipping!!!), uses biodegradable supplies, organic cotton, tea tree oil and aloe vera, energy efficient lighting and uses paper products using post consumer recycled paper. Reverby doesn't just talk the talk--she walks! She organizes "Clear Water", an early morning walk on the beach where the coastal community gets to know each other while picking up trash along the way.

A session with Elisha is also a lesson with Elisha--you will leave fuzz-free, but also educated about how to better care for your skin. Reverby has spent years researching skincare and ingredients and is extremely knowledgeable and very generous about sharing what she's learned with her clients.

For more information about Get Waxed, check out the website at www.getwaxedvenice.com or if you're in the neighborhood, stop by and say "Hello." Book a Brazilian, soothe your skin and save the planet all at the same time!

Get Waxed
304 Westminster Avenue
Venice, CA 90291

(310) 396-2929

Mon-Fri 11-9, Sat-Sun 10-7

- Stella Louise

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Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good With Derma E’s New Organic Expressions Beauty Products!

2007-05-11T15:55:54-04:00

Olive oil has been long thought to contain health benefits, so it makes sense that it can help your skin, too.

With that in mind, Organic Expressions, the new skincare line from derma e Natural Bodycare, boasts an olive base with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The cleanser is a thick formula that cleans without drying. Green tea and aloe vera give it a sweet but not overpowering scent.
The hydrating day cream is rich and thick too, though it absorbs quickly. Good for dry skin. Includes anti-oxidants in the form of pomegranate, which is an anti-aging agent. There is no SPF though, so you'll have to layer that on top.
The eye cream contains witch hazel and rose hips, and is both anti-aging and moisturizing.

The line of products, which is from a home-grown family business natch, is certified organic by the USDA, so it supports sustainable agriculture and is free from damaging chemicals. And while we all want to look good, it may make you feel better to know you’re not putting your beauty concerns before the Earth’s.

Every little bit helps!

The products are available now through the derma e web site, and will hit health food stores like Whole Foods and The Vitamin Shoppe in July.

Julie Haire

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East meets West--Kinara hosts an evening with anti-aging experts!!! FashionTribes Lifestylist reports...

2007-05-09T15:14:20-04:00

On Thursday, May 3rd, Kinara Skin Care Clinic and Spa in West Hollywood hosted an evening to discuss anti-aging options. The event featured:

Olga Lorencin-Northrup - co-founder/owner of Kinara Skin Care Clinic and Spa and renowned skin care expert and esthetician.

Dr. Daoshing Ni (aka "Dr. Dao") - established authority in Chinese medicine including acupuncture and herbology.

Dr. Andrew Cohen - Board certified plastic surgeon specializing in ocuplastic surgery.

The panel was moderated by Clio Manuelian, fashion and beauty press consultant and veteran of Elle magazine and E! Entertainment.

The discussion highlighted the different options available for aging gracefully--from the more gentle maintenance that can be provided by regular visits to an esthetician utilizing a variety of facials, alpha hydroxy acids, peptides and microdermabrasion. Lorencin-Northrup saw her role not only in helping her clients achieve good skin health with a combination of products and services, but the ability to diagnose and recommend specific treatment for her client's anti-aging concerns.

In the middle of the spectrum, Dr. Dao works with a combination of acupuncture, herbs and nutritional supplements to optimize hormone levels--key to staying young and aging gracefully are balanced hormones. Lorencin-Northrup credits Dr. Dao with enabling her to conceive a child at age 41.

Going beyond skincare maintenance and optimized hormones and one enters the realm of Dr. Andrew Cohen. From botox and fillers like Restaylene to more aggressive procedures like eyelifts and facelifts, Dr. Cohen's mantra is that he will not take on a patient unless he can make them happy.

And perhaps happiness--feeling good about oneself, having self-confidence--is the most important part of anti-aging or aging gracefully. Dr. Dao lists ways to a healthy life including: getting a good night's sleep, being positive and active, eat healthy, take care of your body, drink herbal tea daily, meditate and most importantly--SMILE!!!

For more information about Kinara, check out Kinara Skincare Clinic and Spa.
Information about Dr. Dao's practice can be found at Tao of Wellness and for information about Dr. Andrew Cohen check out his website.

We may not have an option about whether or not we age, but thankfully we have plenty of options to preserve a youthful looking appearance for as long as possible!

Stella Louise

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