Nuy|BeautyOne Mom, Raising her Baby without throwing out the Beauty.

Beauty Tips from The Body Shop’s Global Skincare Expert Dr. Terry Loong

2015-03-06T13:41:00.001-05:00

Dr. Terry Loong, The Body Shop’s Global Skincare Expert

I had the pleasure this week of spending some quality time with Dr. Terry Loong, The Body Shop’s Global Skincare Expert. She has been a doctor for the last 11 years and was voted one of the Rising Stars in the Aesthetic Industry and winner of the Best New Clinic in 2013. She was charismatic, exceedingly knowledgeable, and what I appreciated about her most was that she shared my heartfelt, culturally driven, familial passion for skincare.

Three notable tips I took away from her expert talk:

1) You can test the amount of hydration you have/or are lacking in your skin by doing a pinch, pucker and grab test. Meaning you can gently pinch the area underneath your eyes and see how much they bounce back -- if they take too much time you are either dehydrated or may need to start using anti-aging cream. You can pucker your lips for a kiss and see if there are fine lines forming around your lips -- if so, it's again the same, time to use anti-aging skincare and/or drink more fluids. Lastly, grab your cheeks as you would a child's and see how resilient the skin is. Is it saggy? Is there enough of it? You should have something to grab. Again, hydration is key, but around the age of 30, we start to lose our natural ability to hydrate so starting to use an anti-aging skin cream is beneficial. Try Body Shop's New Drops of Youth Sleeping Mask before you go to bed. Rub a teaspoonful between your hands until it warms up and massage it into your face and neck. I've been using it the last two nights and my face has been feeling dewy and bouncy in the mornings! It has hyaluronic acid, edelweiss extract and Edelweiss stem cells, a naturally developed anti-aging ingredient.

The Body Shop Drops of Youth™ Bouncy Sleeping Mask ($30)

2) Having sex three times a week according to a study in Denmark for a year will make you look up to ten years younger. Now how's that for awesome?

3) Going to sleep by 10 p.m. will enhance your beauty sleep. Your body needs its time to rejuvenate its cells, turn them over and replenish. Staying up too late can cause stress, a hormone called cortisol, which can assist in prematurely aging you. Don't fight sleep. Get your beauty rest.

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Korean Skincare and Cleansing: The Ultimate Guide, Pt. 1

2015-02-17T13:46:00.002-05:00

Korean Celebrity, Jun Ji-Hyun, known for her immaculate, glowing skin. Image by Hanyul

Skincare never seemed like a big deal to me growing up because it was instilled in me from birth. It was a big part of my daily ritual, like family dinners or chores. Everyday we took long baths/showers (bathing is a huge part of Asian culture) and we were to always wash our face morning and night. Before bedtime in particular, my mother would wag her finger and warn, if I didn't wash my face thoroughly my facial pores would turn over "dirty cells" while I slept and I'd wake up with dirty skin that had reproduced on top of the old. YIKES and NO THANKS! Now, that's skin some sort of skin training! Face cloths, face washes, moisturizers and sunscreens (since we lived in Hawaii) were as necessary as our toothbrushes, and if something odd turned up on my face like a bump, we went straight to the dermatologist.

This is a vastly simplified, but telling view of Korean skin parenting. It is intense, but results in good skin if the care is taken seriously. This post is one of a series where I'll introduce you to all the essentials of excellent Korean skin care to get your skin in the best shape possible. Age-defying, dewy and healthy.

The Primary

Tonymoly Egg Pore Deep Cleansing Foam, $12

Washing: You've got to wash your face twice a day. Try warm water to wash, and cool water at the end, to rinse, to tighten the appearance of pores. You can even try the double-wash method, which I like, where you start by taking off makeup with a good foaming cleanser (try Tonymoly Egg Pore Deep Cleansing Foam, $12) then follow up with an oil-based cleanser (try The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Light Oil, $13) to soften and moisturize, while still cleaning your face. This eliminates the drying effects of cleaning.

Try massaging your face daily. I like to gently tap or pat my face after washing, from bottom to top, to promote circulation.

Drying Off: Use a nice towel of your choice -- I prefer ones that have a bit of nubby texture to them (I like these Japanese gingham print ones, they're cute AND effective). Pat your face dry and if you need to rub, rub upwards. You don't want to help gravity in anyway ;-). If you have a lot of dry skin, use a warm washcloth in the shower to gently slough away any dead skin particles. This works really well, and feels awesome as well.

Sweet Gingham Print Japanese Face Washcloths. They'll look great in your bathroom and feel amazing on your face!

Massage: My aunt, who has the most quintessentially perfect "milky rice cake" skin, even near age 70, massages her face daily. You can do this by patting your facing, or gently tapping it for a few minutes to stimulate circulation.

Stay tuned for more essential Korean beauty secrets soon. And if you try any of these steps, please let me know what you think, and if they worked for you or not. I'd love to hear!

-- N.C.
Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Is Kimchee Good for Your Skin?

2015-02-12T15:44:00.004-05:00

KIMCHEE: Fermented Korean pickled cabbage

Growing up in a Korean family, kimchee (Korean fermented pickled cabbage) was always in the fridge and served with dinner main dishes. It's true, Koreans do consume a lot of kimchee. The average Korean consumes about 40kg of kimchee a year. And even my not so average Korean parents whom have all kinds of self-imposed dietary restrictions -- no-spice, practically vegan -- for hopes of long-life, eat kimchee everyday. Being an obsessively minded beauty writer, the question I asked myself recently was: is kimchee good for your skin?

This question came about because Koreans are absolutely obsessed with good skin. I was always encouraged, err... forced (the threat being that I would GASP! have tragically BAD skin) to eat all kinds of fruits and vegetables and foods on the pure basis that it was good for my complexion from as far back as I can remember. "Eat tomatoes because it's good for your skin!" urged my mother. "Eat that tofu because it's good for your complexion!" "You better finish that cucumber because it's (you got it, readers...) good for your skin!" And kimchee was always there for the eating.

Good skin is just exceedingly important in Korean culture. Historically, a woman's skin was really the essence of their beauty, and if you think about the more minimalistic features of Korean faces, it makes sense on a purely aesthetic sense: skin is the more prominent feature, other than bone structure.

Example of what would be considered beauitful skin in Korea on Korean Model in Traditional Korean Clothing. Repost from http://newmodernhanbok.tumblr.com

My research showed that kimchee is high in vitamins A and C. Both these vitamins are antioxidants, which help your body fight against free radicals. Vitamin C, in particular helps with the body's production of collagen, which helps keeps skin more elastic. Hmmmm, sounding like a very strong case for kimchee = great skin. But, then again, kimchee has a very high sodium count, one serving having about roughly 45-65 percent of an individuals recommended intake. And, the average Korean eats kimchee three times a day. A high salt diet causes bloating, and puffiness. Puffy face, um, no thanks.

So the results of my study? Maybe kimchee does provide some nutritional value that is good for skin, but I think it's more about how Korean culture takes such pride in caring for skin from the inside out -- through food and dietary knowledge, and passion. Anything flourishes with that much care -- as skin, is an organ, and needs a lot of TLC. Koreans just think skincare is serious business and start the skin education and care, from birth.

Hey, maybe you'll choose to try a kimchee grilled cheese sandwich at your next meal, who knows? But good skin, starts from great nutrition and from being good to your body as a whole.

-- N.C.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with the companies I write and vlog about. My picks and decisions are always editorially and artistically-based and independent.

References:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/478382-health-benefits-of-kimchi/

Starting New Chapters in #Life

2015-01-26T09:36:00.000-05:00

Starting a new chapter with NuyBeauty

#tbt - 5 yrs ago I created NuyBeauty.com. I had a new baby, lost my job & my mom was diagnosed with stage iv cancer- so I reinvented my #life and started providing beauty service for moms online. 172 posts and videos later lots has changed! Thanks for all the support! I couldn't have done it without all your help and support. special thanks to the advice of @jey_cho ( Jeremy Cho) and @raylaswol ( Ray Cho) - and MOM - ( Eun-Ja Cho), @nywnorbsenrab ( Bronwyn Barnes ), @hoffwego ( Jason Hoffman @michanntan ( Michelle Tan)

-N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Best Smart Phone Apps for a Glamorous New Year's Selfie

2014-12-31T10:50:00.000-05:00

Tired of struggling to add 10+ filters and way too much lighting to your ill-taken selfie before posting it with a half shrug? Well, here are a few awesome android/iPhone apps to make the selfie experience a one-take post.

Now, I'm not saying that we have to share a totally foreign version of ourselves unrecognizable to our friends -- but many of us can't afford a $100,000 Hollywood photo shoot and just want to feel good for a moment, so there's no harm in putting your best face forward. Why not remove a few pimples, blemish, and make your teeth whiter in a swipe? I say go for it.

Happy New Year. Look and be the beautiful person you are, even if it's for a silly selfie and embracing the social media moment. Happy Posing!

1. WonderCam: I've been having great fun with app because it gives you the choice to take your pic with the "wonder" filters built in to blast all your blemishes away. Amazing! (Free for iPhone)

2. Beauty Booth Pro: If you don't need the whole face blast effect, this app lets you just fix blemishes and play up your eyelashes (very popular in Asian beauty culture where we so often lack thick lashes!). You can even add cute stickers. ($1.99 for Android and iPhone)

3. Facetune: Need instantly whiter teeth? Want to remove a stray hair? Facetune is like a light photoshop for your phone and very easy to use. ($3.99 for Android and iPhone)

-N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Soft Coral Lips: Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl

2014-12-09T12:51:00.001-05:00

Barbra Streisand in her opening scene of Funny Girl (1968). Her first line: "Hello Gorgeous!"

My daughter and I watched Funny Girl the other evening and we adored all the fashion. But I was personally struck by Barbra's amazing soft, coral lips in her opening scene. What a great lip color that's thoroughly timeless and subtle yet striking. Try this shade from my new favorite range of the Korean Amore Pacific Brand by IOPE, no. 14 Angel Orange ($25).

If you haven't seen the movie, it streams as part of Amazon Prime's subscription, or rent it if you can! It's funny, great for kids who like humor and fashion and a good, old classic.

-- N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Getting ready for Winter Skin: Happy Skin!

2014-12-01T13:22:00.000-05:00

Snowy Days, Happy Skin and Warmth

Originally posted Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Hi! I know it's been awhile since I've written in, but life's been throwing me a bunch of curve balls and I have a few changes in the works here at NuyBeauty ;-). Meanwhile, here's a #repost of how to treat #dryskin and keep your precious #kiddos and yourselves (#mommies #takecare!) #healthy and #warm. Enjoy and by the by, my newest rediscovery from my past for moisturizing: COCONUT OIL! What a wonderful, #natural emollient! Try it out and tell me what you think. It works head to toe!

xoxo - Nuy

My daughter, some of our dear friends, and I built a snowman after a big snow fall.
I felt that perhaps he needed a little color amidst all the white.

It has been snowy day after snowy day here in New York City. Every week we seem to get a new, crazier blizzard or storm, and the salt stains on my favorite pair of weather-proof boots rise up like the layers you see in a canyon.

BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!

Both my daughter's skin and mine have been drier than ever as the heater's have been cranked up to their hottest temperatures to keep us warm. For this I've been moisturizing us, sometimes twice daily, with Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion ($8.00 for 18 oz.), and I've also recently introduced a new humidifier into the home, the Walgreen's Warm Steam Vaporizer ($16). It's got a fantastic price, and is great for those like me who suffer from sinus issues. For soothing those really rough, super dry and itchy patches of skin, I still depend on Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream ($14.00 for 16 oz.), for both of us.

And, to digress slightly, when I can, I've been making the occasional stew to warm up my family's tummies from the inside. The newest dish I introduced into the dinner rotation was a rendition of Chicken Adobo, after being inspired by a New York Times article. And, I've been roasting lots of veggies (loving brussel sprouts). The way the high heat softens and sweetens everything that gets cooked, I barely have to coax my daughter to eat her daily greens!

After all, happy skin isn't just about adequate hydration. It's about healthy, wholesome eating too.

-N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Taking Some Time Off: Happy Summer!

2014-06-30T07:26:00.002-04:00

-- N.C.

What's Your Custom Nail Color?

2014-06-20T11:35:00.002-04:00

Yellow Hibiscus in my Honolulu Garden; the golden leaves representing the color I'd want to bottle for Julep!

What Is Your Custom Nail Color?

Is there a color you always gravitate toward at the nail salon? A color you always pick at the store no matter how much you try to change it up? We all have our favorite, quintessential nail colors. It's an extension of one's personality, and such an easy way to express color in a small but significant way. Recently, Julep Nail Polish asked me to imagine my signature nail color and I was excited to share what my Hawaiian flower inspired hue would be. Thanks Julep!

Growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii, I saw sunny and yellow Hibiscus and Plumeria flowers everyday. They were scattered around my parents' home -- either growing on their individual bushes or trees (respectively), or had fallen to the grass. Breathing in the aromatic scent of these flowers was part of my daily morning ritual. And to this day, when I summer in Honolulu, I have pure aromatherapy when my mother asks me to rake the fallen white and golden Plumerias.

White Plumerias with golden centers

I was always drawn to the yellow variety of these flowers (as they come in various shades) -- it reminded me of the Hawaiian sun and made me happy. Pure and simple. Golden flowers are all over the island of Oahu, and they tend to have rich scents. Perhaps the blossom with the most amazing scent, in my opinion is the Pua Kenikeni flower. The leis made with this small blossom can penetrate an entire room and is so sweet, soft and fragrant that it'll literally make you swoon.

And again, the flowers are such a soft, bright yellow! And so the equation of course becomes that my signature nail color, the hue I wear the most often with love and aloha is a bright, strong yellow; a golden yellow with no shimmer. And if I could name it, I'd name it simply Nui, the (Hawaiian spelling of my name); which means intense, very, a lot, a star. Paradise gold in a bottle.


Me, summering at home in Honolulu on my parent's home roof. Absolute Paradise!


Holding a Golden Hibiscus with my Hawaiian Style Nails (PRO TIP: try mini Hibiscus painted on the 4th nails for a tropical twist on design manicures for the summer!)

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

The Writings of a Book: My Memoir

2014-06-02T15:25:00.001-04:00

Me, Age 4

I've been toying with writing a memoir for years -- since my days at InStyle. So that makes it about a decade I have been digesting words, stories and building a platform through this blog to finally start the big story.

This isn't your ordinary memoir about why my life turned out the way it did, and who did what to influence my life. This is a story about how I learned my life through my blog posts, about learning who my father is and was (a person of some mystery to me while growing up), and how I came to understand that as much as I love beauty and makeup -- my primary goal is to provide health and wellness information as I suffer from chronic medical conditions that effect my ability to mother, interrupt my daily life and have made me the strong survivor I am today.

So this is where I turn the corner in NuyBeauty.com and go from providing easy beauty service for busy women and mothers, to sharing my life as beauty expert who for the first time in my life is finally embracing the disabilities of my illnesses as POSitivies and to share the experience within my writing as I look back a little further and reflect on how today came to be such a beautiful day.

I'll share passages of my book as I blog and keep you posted. And don't worry, the beauty tips, makeup up know-how, parenting venting and sharing will always be there! Maybe even a recipe ;-).

Now, wish me luck...

First Share:

My father traveled a lot from when I was first born. He was gone on average two weeks out of every month. The story goes that I always had tummy aches and got belly sick when he left for his exotic abroad work trips. I missed him dearly. But my family also had no idea also, that years later I would be diagnosed with a very rare liver disease contributing to this medical situation.

The concept of Dad is so important to the little ones, no matter how small. I admired and adored my father, even though I had a very limited understanding of what he did until my early teens (he is a demographer, social scientist, economist and political scientist).

When I was old enough to be able to stand up in the car behind him as he was driving us somewhere in Honolulu, Hawaii where I grew up -- this before child car safety rules became much more heavy handed -- I would hold tightly to any part of what was available to me to reach that I could. His jacket shoulder sleeve, his shirt sleeve; I'd stand very officially behind him on the middle bump of the back seat foot bottoms and be proud that little me was attached in my own strong and balanced way in our 1970s roaring Dodge Dart. 'Daddy is close to me now,' I remember thinking, no matter how rocky this ride.

--N.C.

MAKE Kid-Friendly NATURAL LIP BALMS & ALLERGY-FREE SOAPS with Me in INWOOD, NY!

2014-05-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

My daughter and her bestie Hana-chan measuring beeswax and coconut oil for the lip balm making.

Yup, I've decided to take my beauty craft knowledge and pass it along to DIY "let's make fun stuff" hungry kids. SO, tada... I introduce the Official NuyBeauty Kid Beauty Craft Spring/Sumner Workshops SCHEDULE! (and PS, my apartment used to be called Sesame Street b/c I would always invite oodles of kids to play with my daughter and have face-painting, crafting, baking, etc. going on :-)

Decorating the lip balm containers with jewel stickers.

Completed Lip Balms, made by an older set of children (not so blingy and full of tapefitti ;-))

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Cutest Smile Contest: Win a Colgate Optic White Toothbrush w/ Built-in Whitening Pen

2014-03-29T11:14:00.000-04:00

Post a picture of your child's best smile and be entered to win a Colgate Optic White Toothbrush w/ Built-in Whitening Pen.

Happy Spring!

To celebrate the beauty of our kids' amazing smiles and teeth, I'd love to see you share your child's smile! Please post pictures of your children laughing, showing off their toothy or toothless ;-) smiles on my Facebook page. And the family of the cutest smile wins a Colgate Optic White Toothbrush, which has a Built In Whitening Pen, which gives you whiter teeth in just two days ($15 value). I'm sure we'd all love to see everyone's kids, right?

Also, scroll down further for three useful tips on kiddie clean teeth care!

The Colgate^® Optic White^® (@opticwhite on Twitter) toothbrush is specially designed with polishing bristles and stain removers to help remove surface stains.

Healthy Kid Teeth Care Tips for Parents:

Maintaining clean teeth for the little ones and helping them to develop healthy attitudes toward keeping their pearly whites cavity-free is just another one of our many parental duties. But luckily we've got all kinds of character toothbrushes (Barbie in my house), deliciously flavored toothpastes and clever kiddie floss picks to help us help our munchkins smile bright. A few things I've learned along the way from experts and friends to keep kiddo teeth cavity free:

1) Stay away from gummy vitamins as the sugars in them stick to vulnerable baby teeth and make it easy for cavities to form. My daughter started to develop a tiny bit of decay on one of her molars before her dentist asked if we were using gummy vitamins, which we then switched immediately to chewable ones, in which the sugars melt away in the mouth instead of sticking to the teeth.

2) When your children eat chewy candies or fruits (e.g. dried fruits, Starbursts, etc.) have them floss right away. Kids floss picks are very easy for adults to use and children like that they're flavored.

3) Kids need help from their parents until the age of nine brushing of their teeth as they don't have the motor skills until they are older to brush accurately around all sides of their beautiful whites. And of course, try to have your kids brush their teeth twice a day.

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

DIY Pro Brow Shaping Tutorial w/ Soul Lee, NYC Brow Guru

2014-03-27T15:33:00.003-04:00

Tending to your brows is probably the easiest, most budget friendly, uplifting (no pun intended) way to take ten years off your face. This video tutorial I did with wonderful colleague Soul Lee, one of NYC's leading brow and lash specialists, is still one of my favorites. It is an in-depth tutorial on getting photo-shoot ready-, your very best-, BROWS ever. In this video Soul gently teaches and reveals her best-kept secrets, all for you to look better: What a gift!

Let me know your thoughts, and if you do end up looking ten years younger, please do share! I always feel a thousand times better when she helps me out!

To book an appointment with Soul Lee who is at the Kiehl's Spa in NYC call 888-SPA-1851 or visit kiehls.com

xoxo.

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Clinique's Story Changers: A Video on Improving Skin

2014-03-19T12:55:00.002-04:00


Happy to be a part, here I am doing makeup with Clinique foundation for the Story Changers Video

A few months ago I was asked to be a part of an amazing campaign with Clinique (a brand I've loved since childhood) as they were getting ready to launch a new acne product. It was in conjunction with Case, an incredible film production team, and so I was lucky enough to be filmed in my home city of NYC doing what I love -- talking about my history with beauty, makeup, and most importantly my struggles with acne.

As a Korean-American, I was taught to treat skin almost like a family member -- with utmost respect, love and nourishment, as you would an individual. So with acne, the best solution of it started with well, a talk with Mom! See how I changed my acne story in my video with Clinique, and how you can ultimately change your skin story too.

Clinique Story Changer: Nuy Cho, Beauty Blogger

To see the rest of the amazing Clinique Story Changers and their videos, click here!

Smile :-)

NOTE: If you have any specific comments/questions about the Clinique Acne solutions mentioned in the Story Changers video, there is a Live Chat available where you can talk to a Clinique Consultant directly about a regimen that is right for you. Just click on the blue link to be connected to the expert, and you won't have to go all the way to a counter to get your answers.

BEHIND THE SCENES SHOTS:

In Reverse: I'm getting my makeup done for once, yay -- by the awesome Camille Thompson, xo!

How fun to get a Go Pro attached to me while I bike around my home nabe of Inwood, NYC! Thanks to CASE - you guys rock! (Instagram #repost @midgemadge)

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Exclusive #Giveaway for my special #Inwood and #WashHi #Mothers

2014-03-12T12:47:00.003-04:00

Zoya Naturel Collection Sampler contains 6 full-sized (0.5oz) bottles

Exclusive #giveaway for my special #Inwood and #WashHi #mothers (my #awesome #Mom neighbors!)

This Zoya Nail Polish and Treatments new #spring collection ($54) can be yours! Because I LOVE MOMS, just show me back your love and #follow me on any of my platforms: right here on bloggerm, on Facebook: on Twitter and/or Instagram;

Winner will be announced next Monday! The #beautiful #nude nail polishes are #kid friendly !!!!

-- N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Healthy, Fun Eats: Homemade Handrolls Recipe

2014-03-07T16:59:00.000-05:00

Lil Miss A-chan proudly holding up her Temaki (Japanese for Handroll), filled with very healthy sliced cucumbers, carrots and pan-fried Tilapia fillet.

I love food, and eating healthy to keep fit. I grew up in an Asian family in Honolulu, so we ate tons of fish and rice growing up. The daily challenge of feeding my daughter healthy food everyday is one I know is a universal one, particularly for those on a budget like me ;-). Today I'd like to share one of my $10 dinner recipes that's healthful, kid-approved, and pretty yummy. It's one I grew up with back in Oahu, but very easy to apply anywhere you are in the world.

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS:

You'll need

1) ROASTED SEAWEED for wrapping, which is available at most supermarkets in the Asian food section, Costco, or you can find it online. Seaweed should be cut into 4" by 2-3" rectangles. Scissors are the best tool for this.

The Beauty Benefits of eating seaweed are outstanding: it's a great source of zinc and antioxidants helping to strengthen the immune system. It is considered to have anti-aging properties; its rich iodine content helps maintain healthy thyroid function and can assist with weight loss (thumbs up!); it helps boost energy levels due to its vitamin B and iron content; AND seaweed's bounty of vitamins, minerals and amino acids makes it an amazing food for improving the health, as well as the strength of hair, skin and nails. I mean, WOW, right?


Roasted Seaweed: Delicous on its own, and the essential wrapper for Handrolls

2) TILAPIA or any thin white fish fillet. Beauty Benefits of Tilapia: Tilapia has B12 (which gives skin its healthy coloring), selenium (an antioxidant) and phosphorous (helps with cell repair) and I bought 2 pounds of it for $5, which is a good deal, in my opinion.

BUDGET TIP: I optionally chose to beef up my tilapia portions by battering them in a Korean pre-prepared batter called "Jun" and/or Korean Pancake Mix. It is essentially a lightly seasoned egg and flour base that you can easily mix with just water to coat meat or veggies in, then pan-fry them in. It helps to add some bulk to your meat if you need to stretch out your portions, and you want to save some money $. This batter can be purchased at Korean Supermarkets for a couple dollars a bag.

Korean Pancake Mix: "JUN" - use to easily add bulk to your meats and veggies.

3) STEAMED WHITE RICE. I like Nishiki brand; and I would suggest cooking at least 2 cups of it for a family of 3-4.

4) Sliced raw, pickled or steamed VEGGIES of your choosing to put inside the handrolls, e.g. cucumbers, carrots, avocado.

5) SOYSAUCE and wasabi and/or any other sauce or garnish to taste.

DIRECTIONS:

1) After slicing the veggies in long, thin strips so they will be easy to roll up in the hand-rolled sushi. You can also slice Japanese style pickles (easily purchsed at any Asian style supermarket).

2) Put your rice to cook and start on the tilapia.

3) I like tilapia because it's easy to cook and easy for kids to eat -- soft, not so fishy and delicious. And of course, budget friendly. The battering, just involves lightly coating the filets in the "jun" mix and then putting them aside.

The battering, just involves lightly coating the filets in the "jun" mix and then putting them aside.

4) Put a touch of olive oil on a large non-stick skillet on med-high heat. The fish should pan-fry for about 5 minutes on each side until golden brown. The meat should fork easily when done.

After that the fish was just pan-fried for about 5 minutes on each side on med-high heat with a touch of olive oil on a non-stick pan until golden brown.

6) After cooling the filets off after removing them from the pan, set all the handroll/temaki ingredients, family style on the dining table, with an abundance of seaweed for lots of fun wrapping. Each family member can get a plate and serve what they want to put in their roll.

And let the wrapping feast begin!

A handroll - so delicous, healthful and fun to make.

Enjoy and let me know how your temaki festival goes!

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Pro Blemish Concealing for Acne - A Makeup Tutorial

2014-02-28T12:10:00.001-05:00

All of us at one time or another need concealer. It's just one of those things; nobody's got perfect skin. Hope I'm not breaking any news here, ;-). Thus comes my video tutorial on how to cover up that age-old, annoying irritation: acne! Because we all seem to get it, no matter how old we are.

Acne concealing is about expert blending, and the trickiest spots are sometimes those that are just healing (yes, the moist, scabby ones). The same principles of acne concealing can be used to cover up other types of troublesome face scars and irritations. Just remember that color-matching is of utmost importance, as well as blending the concealer in well, with the rest of your skin. Keep those two points in mind throughout, and you're good to go.

I used a male model, a professional athlete, in this video to demonstrate that people of all types use cover-up, not just women. Blemishes on our face are difficult, period, no matter what, when facing the public eye. So it's okay! Rest easy, and here's five minutes on how to conceal like a pro:

Hope you liked it. Let me know your thoughts!

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Outsmarting Dry Skin

2014-02-26T11:51:00.000-05:00

Reposted from 2/10/10

Itchy, dry skin on our kiddos is hard to watch for parents

Any item entering my house, no matter how small, requires the most careful consideration regarding design, tactility, and function. Seems anal, but this is how I've always operated. When I was 8 years old and had to pick a dress to perform piano in with the Honolulu Symphony, nothing off-the rack would do so I picked a pattern and worked with a seamstress. No kidding -- my poor Mother. Before I had a kid though, no one ever fought me on my choices. I was head of Chez Nuy. That said, for my daughter's first pair of mittens, I searched high and low for the best pair to combat the cold air, and the dry skin it was inflaming on her hands. When they arrived at our door, I put the selection on her and to my dismay, she freaked out. She hated the mittens -- everything about them. Our, my mitten meet-and-greet had gone awfully awry: my fashion remedy for her chapped hands was a no-go.

My daughter, A-chan, facing the winter :-).

When we're out and about, I try to keep my daughter, A-chan's hands tucked into her oversized, Polo jacket. But when she's snacking, playing Ring Around the Rosy, or negotiating the jungle gym, her little mitts are inevitably exposed to the chilly NYC air, and the area below her knuckles suffers. Like her hair, A-chan's skin is dry, and the winters are typically challenging -- what with the overheated, moisture-less apartments and the icy, outside air. And maybe it's sympathy-symptoms, but my own hands, on and around the knuckles have also been raw and chapped, similar to hers. There are days when the pinkness of my knuckles are akin to the prettiest spring blush, but blush doesn't, and shouldn't burn!

My daughter's intense dry skin can act out, particularly in arid conditions, expressing itself as mild atopic dermatitis, per her pediatrician. Her case is far from severe, but when it's intense it has caused tiny bumps to rise on her body (concentrated on her stomach, her bum -- areas where clothing is most often rubbing against her skin), and caused discomfort to the point where she'll itch the problem areas until chafing occurs.

It's important to remember a few basics when dealing with mild baby eczema / atopic dermatitis: Use a humidifier (here's Hello Kitty one, $39), apply moisturizer daily and liberally, don't wash the skin too often with drying soaps (use pH balanced soaps like Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($6), which is safe for babies), and alternate washes with soap by just cleansing your child with water.

I was feeling victorious because I had recently gotten both pairs of hands at Chez Nuy in tip top shape -- mostly due to the religious application of lotion (here's a luxurious one I love for Mom by Rescue Beauty, $42) and lots of Vaseline before bedtime. Then today, while we were out in the tundra of the city's early February blizzard making snowmen, a friend of mine offered A-chan a pair of white toddler gloves akin to Minnie Mouse's or an old-fashioned waiter's. Gasp! Something I never would've picked.

But my daughter kept them on, flashing me a satisfied smile as she gathered some snow, fully-gloved: Yes, mama, I like these!

Dry Skin 1-2-3:

1) Vaseline ($5): This inexpensive classic that I use daily for A-chan, is a fantastic heal-all and works well for both baby and mom. Put it on the raw areas (works great for diaper rashes and chapped lips too) when you and/or your kid goes to bed. You'll see a difference overnight.

2) Mustela Dermo-Pediatrics Stelatopia Moisturizing Cream ($19): After trying many, this was the only lotion that made A-chan's tiny, dry skin bumps go away.

3) Aveeno Baby Soothing Bath Treatment ($5): You can use this a few times a week to soothe dry, itchy skin (and it also works for diaper rash). Just make sure to have your child soak for at least ten to fifteen minutes in the treatment.

UPDATE (March 21, 2010):

Try Vanicream. A-chan and I have been having fantastic results with it in the last few weeks. It is possibly the most irritant-free moisturizer I have found so far, and highly absorbent.

-- N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

When A Family Loses a Dog: Honoring a Beautiful Life

2014-01-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

#Dogs bring us #love, companionship, and build unbreakable bonds of symbiotic emotional nurturing and caring that come without human judgment. King Arthur, our family dog watching over my daughter when she was just a wee one in 2008.

I've been dreading writing this story - probably since the day I fell in love with my (heart, sinking, now, ugh) late, family dog, King Arthur. But I do it now, because it's time I finally honor his admirable, amazing and beautiful life: King Arthur Cho - 2001-2013.

Our dog came to us in an untraditional way. I was working at InStyle magazine and didn't have any thoughts of adopting a canine at the time back in 2005. But one evening I came home from work and there was this giant rottie shepherd mutt, trotting around with this goofy look on this face knocking over all my things because he was just, well, extremely large. Oh, and he smelled really bad. My then husband had taken the pup in for some neighborly dogsitting and depsite the fact that I was mildy annoyed at not being previously informed of the visit, I, a huge dog lover, quickly bathed the big guy and well, within minutes, let's just say, fell in love.

Meant to Be - haha!: Me and King Arthur Cho in one of our Holiday Cards, 2005

The story goes that said owner of King Arthur the dog, after three weeks away, never really came back, and thank goodness because I developed a deep bond with the dog. It was as they say, meant to be. "KA" as he began to be known was famously my first baby, and incredibly spoiled by me: I created quite um "fancy" holiday cards with just the two of us, sending them to fellow editors and colleagues (I kind of cringe, at this today, lol). KA had Halloween costumes, and new toys everyday, and ahem, KA wore a black bowtie when I got married. Furthermore, the King certainly had only the most sophisticated of bath and body treatments. I know, ridiculous.

But perhaps what I will remember King Arthur the most for is how he nursed me. I was born with a progressive medical condition that has caused me severe pain throughout my life. There was once a period where I was bedridden for a week and he never left my side - not even to drink water. I will never forget that. It was incredible as I was never allowed to feel alone by my dog, as he patiently waited for me to get better.

And so when I miss my crazy, goofy dog, who had such a love and loyalty, as all family dogs do, I think of how he was there for me in the toughest of times. And this is my story of course, but every family member who King Arthur spent time with, has a unique story of their own, of how he touched their lives. Because that's what family dogs do. They bring us love, companionship, and build unbreakable bonds of symbiotic emotional nurturing and caring that come without human judgment. Now the beauty in that is boundless.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Merry Christmas: Here's a Day in My Life as Mother, Beauty Expert, Girlfriend, and Life Lover!

2013-12-25T06:45:00.001-05:00

NuyBeauty: Christmas Rainbow Makeup - A Just for Laughs Video

2013-12-06T08:55:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday! My daughter begs to play with my Pro makeup kit. Here's what
happens when I let it happen. So just for laughs...

I think my Shu Uemura master eye shadow palette endured some damage. Whoops ;-).

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

My Top Five Beauty Holiday Gifts 2013 - Family Friendly!

2013-12-05T13:54:00.000-05:00

Here are the most awesome items that came through the NuyBeauty office this year that made me happy because they worked well (either on set, on me, my kid, or my pro-skater boyfriend - haha!) and were all-around terrific items. There's something here for moms, kids, men -- everyone is represented, so I hope this helps you in your holiday shopping!

1) YogaToes Premium Gift Set : UNISEX/Great for a couples gift too!

My boyfriend and I discovered this wonderful tool at our fabulous pedicurist, Erica Marton's. It helps stretch out your toes, yoga style, and if you buy the whole gift-kit, it comes with these crazy massagers that uber-circulate your feet. You will be falling asleep and/or in full-body relaxation time minutes. Great for overall circulation, which in turn helps with great skin, period.

I recommend the Premium YogaToes gift set that comes with the massager, purifying spray, and hand & foot salve ($55)

2) Klorane Leave-in Spray with Citrus Pulp: WOMEN/KIDS

Klorane's Leave-in Spray with Citrus Pulp: The Citron, a citrus fruit originally cultivated in the Mediterranean, is traditionally used for its toning and purifying properties. The pulp of this fruit is extracted to create anti-oxidant properties and combined with and white vinegar to create a weight-free detangler hair and toner. $14.

A great, paraben-free detangling and shine spray for all hair types, in my professional book, it's also a great pre-blow dry treatment and its citrus aroma awakens the senses.You can use this on wet or dry hair and if you want one spray product to prep your hair and your kid's for any hairstyle, this is the one.

You can also find this at your local Duane Reade if you're in NYC. Awesome.

3) Honey Girl Organics Face and Eye Creme Extra Sensitive: WOMEN/ ORGANIC

Wonderful for those who have allergies and skin sensitives. Honey Girl Face & Eye Creme Extra Sensitive ($33) is made only from organic extra virgin olive oil, purified water, Beeswax with pollen & propolis,
Raw Pupukea Honey, Royal Jelly, and Vitamin E.Additionally the beehive ingredients are harvested from only holistically managed beehives.

A shout out to my home island of Oahu, this super rich cream has raw Pupukea honey harvested from the North Shore of Hawaii and will adjust to the most sensitive of skins. Super moisturizing and awesome for the extreme dry weather we've got going in mainland winters. Give a gift of aloha to someone you love, with a little bit of locally harvested honey. And it really smells like local honey.

4) Magic Pads: UNISEX/MEN

These Magic Pads ($20) helped my boyfriend's acne so much, he asked to take them to his skateboarding tour to Brazil! (It also helps they're in a manly enough black container ;-))

Have acne? Want something for helping with anti-aging, exfoliation, and treating your acne, all in one convenient small wipe? My boyfriend Danny and I love Magic Pads. They're pre-soaked makeup pads are filled with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, aloe and vitamin E.

5) Milkseed Oil Skincare Seasonal Blend (UNISEX & NATURAL) ($58)

Caterpillars spend 12 days on milkweed plants before they transform into monarch butterflies. Milkseed Skincare oil is wild harvested twice a year, after the caterpillars have become monarchs. Milkweed is the only plant these caterpillars can consume to complete their change. This oil is domestically harvested.

A new favorite of mine to carry in my beauty bag. This Milkseed oil is a natural anti-aging treatment (the milkseed oil, which has antioxidant qualities and helps to calm redness, soothe lines and boost your skin's sun protection). The Milkseed Skincare Fall Blend ($58) has the added benefit of Rose Hip oil to assist in restoring the skin's natural elasticity.

Pro Tip: Apply on top of makeup to create a natural, but non-sparkly glow, as blush and a highlighter; That's how I love it. It's great for sensitive skin.

AND JUST FOR KICKS:

Need a cool gift item for a teacher, or friend? I came across this pretty candle with a surprise inside and thought it was just perfect for the holidays. Not quite beauty, but beautiful:

6) Bella j. Candles:

Gold or silver plated, dyed quartz, and real diamond charms on bracelets or necklaces are inside these candles, which are only $25, at www.bellaj.com

I love that there is a hidden charm (worth from $10 to $450, with a a few lucky ones who will find a jewel with an estimated value of $10,000) in every yummy scented candle. My pick? The Surfshack candle of course -- a scent mixed with fresh air, sweet citrus accords, white florals, leafy greens, and honeydew melon. C'mon, I'm from Hawaii! Aloha :-).

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

What are you Thankful For? My Thanksgiving LOL Confessional

2013-11-26T14:25:00.000-05:00

What I Want and Why Life Is Good - my pre-pre-pre bucket list from my 20s - found yesterday while digging through old photos for work. To me, hilarious!

Truly, I'm thankful for what I have in my life. I love my daughter. I'm happy that I survived, or am surviving my divorce -- because my goodness, it's been a couple year process. Yes, meaning in short, just becoming amicable with the ex, getting a good schedule of co-parenting, took a LOT of work. But we're getting there YAY! And I have a new guy in my life, who's been awesome about the whole thing. I used to want Chanel bags, mink shrugs and shiny things from Harry Winston (well, maybe I still think about them from time to time ;-)), but that's ok!

But I now know the importance of having well-working families and relationships - even if they are non-traditional. I had to get over the non-traditional part through the divorce -- even me, whose been called the `soul sister rebel child' by my brother Ray, because I nonetheless was raised in a conservative household. But as long as you have a solid chain of loved ones, family and friends around you -- this is your family, your community, whether it's modern, traditional, alternative, whatever you want to call it. It's yours, so it doesn't matter. Yes, relationships are hard, but with TLC -- we work to make them better and make them last and work for us.

So happy thanksgiving!

Me and Daddy in Kyoto, 1981.

And if you happen to read in detail my funny little pre-bucket list up there (I've blacked out the too private to share bullet points). I've crossed out as irrelevant or `N/A' over time, and the funniest one to me is "A man I can bring a man home w/out fear of disownment). Just a little explanation on that: I'm Korean-American with a fiercely traditional father who is Confucian; My ex-husband was Haitian-American/Black. Let's just say this did not go over well with my dad and his obsession with the maintenance of the Cho bloodline. He disowned me over four times - for wanting to be with my ex, and for later wanting to leave him. Basically, I couldn't win either way. But, great news. Daddy and are at peace now. Everything passes. Trust me ;-).

Beauty Tip in all of this? Feel loved. Be loved. Let yourself be loved, because you are loved.
And that is where your beauty starts. Beauty = love.

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Friday Winter Beauty Tip: Wash Off Tanning

2013-11-22T09:43:00.000-05:00

Me, this morning after mixing St. Tropez's One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion with Nars Laguna Body Illuminator, and Accent Moisturizing Body Lotion to create a hydrating and natural bronzing effect.

Winter is cold, rainy, and there's definitely not enough healthy, yummy sunlight. One of the things I hate the most is losing my tan. I'm sure you can all relate. An easy way to lift your spirits on a particularly crappy day (it's very wet today in NYC) is to give yourself a nice wash-off tan rub. It creates an instant summery glow, and the way I do it, with a few pumps of moisturizer, also nourishes your dry winter skin. Here's how:

St. Tropez's One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion with Nars Laguna Body Illuminator, and Accent Moisturizing Body Lotion

3 Steps to a Safe Instant Winter Tan:

1) Take a dime sized amount of St. Tropez's One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion ($18) (more depending on how tan you want to be) and mix this with an equal amount of Nars Laguna Body Illuminator ($45) : a ratio of 1:1. Then add a few pumps of my new favorite body moisturizer by Accent ($16) (it's got fruit extracts from figs, pineapple and kiwi, which makes my Hawaiian born side perk up, and is paraben- and fragrance-free).

2) Mix all three together well between your palms. Then rub well into the parts of your body you want tan -- you don't want streaks. The mix may stain your hands so wash them right after with soap and water.

3) The Nars Illuminator will give you a tiny bit of shimmer, which will add to the overall glowing effect -- which will beget you complements if you happen to take off your cardigan and show a bit of arm ;-). Instant confidence and happiness builder! And at the end of the day, just wash everything off with the shower.

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.

Glitz up Your Holiday Nails w/ the Zenith Collection by Zoya

2013-11-21T12:30:00.002-05:00

The Winter/Holiday 2013 Zenith collection by Zoya Nail Polish.

I like shopping for the holidays, way before the crowds hit. Like I bought the little USB mini lights tree at Target for $5.99 (in the photo) early this morning right after I dropped off my daughter at kindie. It brightens up all the beauty products I work with.

Today's 'display' - haha - is Zoya's Zenith Nail collection. Perfect for the holidays with its glistening effect, but I particularly like the set because it's colors remind me of a winter's sunset -- there are dark blues, navies and silvers. It's feminine and distinctly bold and vivid at the same time. The darker shades will look amazing with your winter whites and the lighter shades with your pretty, sultry, dark suits or party dresses.

And, why I love Zoya? It's great for kids because it was the first company to remove toxic ingredients such as toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and DBP (dibutyl phthalate) from its formulations.

Have fun and paint up those nails!

xo.

--N.C.

Disclaimer: Nuy Cho has no affiliation to any of the beauty companies mentioned on www.nuybeauty.com.