Hi Ladies,

Ever wished, hoped, prayed (or all of the above) that you’d wake up one day to see that the cellulite on the back of your thighs had magically disappeared? Or that the extra skin (I choose to call it “extra skin”, not flab) on the under part of your arm or just above your belt was a little more taut? If we had it our way, a wish upon a star and a little bit o’ cardio would do it. Sadly, it doesn’t.

Even with some effort, and in some cases lots of effort, it can be seemingly impossible to rid our gorgeous, womanly bodies of those minor albeit natural nuisances. So, I’m perplexed as to why, until two weeks ago, I resisted—though they have been sent to me and marketed to all of us—lotions, potions, creams, and non-invasive treatments that claim to make dimples smooth, swollen ankles or wrists svelte, and waistlines smaller.

I skeptically abandoned my “can’t-be-true-won’t-work” cynicism in hope of becoming “suddenly slender.” I tested THE SlenderTone Body Wrap developed by Victoria Morton that according their website, www.victoriamorton.com,   and Victoria is 100% safe, healthy, and all-natural. 

Before I got dressed on the morning of my wrap day, I quizzically examined a small cluster of dimples on the back my upper thighs. They’re not that bad, I thought.  But with a “guarantee” of a smoother derriere and thighs that sink easily instead of force me to writhe, wiggle, hop and squeeze into a pair of my Size 28 J Brand or Rogan jeans, I bubbled with excitement!

In preparation, I drank 2oz of the Victoria Morton’s Mineral Magic Plus, $49.95 per bottle, a not-so-bad-tasting vitamin and mineral concoction the publicist sent to me, twice a day for three days before my wrap. The ingredient rundown on the back of Mineral Magic Plus reads like long laundry list of labels slapped on the bottles and jars of an aisle at your local GNC. Let’s just say, by day three of cleansing with Mineral Magic, my system felt flushed and my body suddenly lighter.

The morning of THE wrap, I showered, forwent applying lotion or deodorant (because they told me to), and showed up at the makeshift Suddenly Slender Studio at the Hudson Hotel for my treatment. (Suddenly Slender locations are franchised all over the world.) My wrap session went like this:

I undressed, leaving on my briefs and sports bra…Rebecca, a certified aesthetician and my wrap technician measured me, every part: from my ankles to my knees, thighs, hips, glutes, hamstrings wrists, biceps, triceps, breasts, back, neck, shoulders…You name it, she measured it and then jotted down each digit with intense precision…she then sprayed my body with a “collaise-enzyme” spray that would help break down fat cells especially in more muscular areas …next she wrapped my body from toe to neck with oversized-ace-bandages drenched with a “special mineral-infused solution”…I was a mirror-image of a freshly and tightly wrapped mummy though a lot less nimble, I could barely move…for the next hour, in twenty minute intervals—pausing only to be “basted” with a mineral collaise solution meant to rehydrate my skin—I attempted to swing my arms and legs on a cross trainer to keep circulation going…Rebecca unwrapped me and got to measuring…

 From neck to toe I lost a total of 15.5 inches! I lost one whole inch on my waist and one-half inch on each thigh. (Wohoo! Can I get an “Amen?!”) I asked Rebecca how long my results would last. “Unless you gain weight, they’re permanent.”

With that in mind, I went home and commenced a back-of-the-closet fitting frenzy. I tried on a Dolce & Gabanna pencil skirt I haven’t worn in years, a Nicole Miller strapless evening gown that says it’s a Size 6 but fits like a Size 4.5 around my thighs, and a Roland Mouret square-neck, amped-up sleeve dress I bought two sizes too small 3 years ago at a Sample Sale. Surprisingly, they all fit!

Feeling very-much-on-top-of-the world, I slid into my size 28 Rogans  (I actually had a little room between the button and my navel) and I met “Mr. F” for cocktails.  While cruising to a NYC hot spot, I thought to myself, “Tomorrow, I’m going to the beach, a pool, a park, somewhere in a bikini! I’m going to enjoy this while it lasts.”

With an average cost of about $125 across the country, I’m telling you, if you have an event  to attend or just want to fit into those jeans, (darn it), the $125 is very well spent. With a second-wrap-free guarantee, what have you got to lose…other than a few inches?

For more info log onto www.victoriamorton.com.

Feel beauty-full,

Tai

Have you ever tried a-get-slimmer-fast program? Did it work? Or have you ever had a BodyWrap or skin smoothing process? Do tell.  

I don't remember in which gossip-dishing weekly I read it (yes, I occasionally skim them. Okay, honestly, I read them during every salon sitting. Okay, I once had a subscription, but it's since cancelled...and yes, I’m considering renewing) but I recently noted a term on one of the style pages I couldn't resist borrowing: "recessionista!"

It inspired me to coin (no pun intended) my own diva-on-a-budget word: “frugal-ista”.

Trust me when I tell you, everyone is feeling the pinches the days. After a few impulsive shoe, dress, and denim buys, purchasing a new ride (keeping its tank a little to the right of E) and vacationing in LA, I recently made a pact (beauty products excluded…I mean, they are the most economical and purposeful indulgences) to:

1. Curb my spending severly over the next few months (almost all of my friends outside of Manhattan are homeowners for crying out loud)
   
2. Vow that when I do make a thoughtful purchase (a hefty double-digit) % OFF must be found somewhere on the price tag.

We see the hi-low-get-a-similar-look-thing-for-a-lot-less story in almost every woman’s magazine, on every site, blog, commercial, infomercial, pamphlet, etc… and with good reason.  ALL women enjoy a bargain. And though a "frugal-ista," looking like less than a cool few million is not an option, right?

So whether you’re a gal who shops Target, Kohl’s or H&M for well-priced stylish wears or a label-lovin’ lady who is on the hunt for deeply-discounted designer brands, I’m happy to say, there are a few stores (Century 21 and Off Saks 5^th Avenue) and sites (check out a few of my favorites below) where you can shop almost guilt-free.

One “frugal-ista” purchase I am making this season? This bulls-eyed-priced python printed hobo bag by Botkier for Target, $39.99, available for a limited time at www.target.com.

I’m giving one of these babies away. The first reader to email me at compactsandvignettes@gmail.com will win.

Other sites I’m loving:

 

 

Ideeli  www.ideeli.com is a members-only shopping network that offers exclusive sales (and sometime freebies) on current and recent season collections of indie and well-known designer accessories. I’m talking Shih by Stephanie Lin satchels for less than half the original price! Other designers you’ll find and love include Carlos Falchi, Prada, Alexis Hudson, and Gucci. And because they want you to sign up…enter invitation code: C&V to join.

 

Bag, Borrow, or Steal www.bagborroworsteal.com Borrow the classic Marc Jacob “Amanda” Satchel, Yves Saint Laurent oversized tortoise frames, and jewelry and other accessories for a week or month. If you’re into any accessory trend, you’ll find it here and rather humbly priced compared to the full purchase price. If you’re less than genteel on your borrowed bag, know that you might have to pay the ultimate price.

Okay frugal-istas, do tell what fashion or beauty purchase(s) have you budgeted for this season. I want to know!

Stay beauty-full,

Tai

Hi Ladies,

After wrestling with chaotic schedules for weeks, I was able to catch up with my friend, “Mr. JR” on Friday. After less than five minutes of face time—literally after greetings, exchanging pleasantries, and taking our seats to talk life—"JR” made the most audacious (and unexpected) statement.

“Wow, you’ve got a pimple!!!”  He said.

My jaw dropped.

But I was fast to recover. “Yeah! I get them every so often like most people. No?”

“I guess so. But I’ve never seen you with one,” he responded.

His point was well taken. I’m no pimple super-shero but my skin rarely breakouts …on my face. But while I didn’t experience acne as a pubescent teen, I have battled “back-ne” since I was twelve. And even then vanity got the best of me…and my mom. In our attempt (I made it her project, too) to rid my back of what I thought were the most unsightly bumps (no more than 7-10 at a time) that were pretty much unsighted, at least during winter, spring, and fall. In her attempt to appease me, she shuttled me from one dermatologist to the next and grilled them about “cures” for acne. She tried.

Fast forward to the here and now. At thirty, my back is sometimes still a problem area, but my face breaks out only occasionally.  One, sometimes two mole hills appear at a time about once a month or every other month, around that time of the month. I know. I’m lucky.  But like many women-of-a-certain-age (late twenty-, thirty-, and forty-somethings), I am not immune to hormone fluctuations, increased sebum production, the not-so-healthy-stuff smog leaves on skin, and heck…good old aging that can zap moisture or create extra at times.

So imagine my pure excitement when less than 24-hours after “JR” I.D.-ed the mini-Mount Kilimanjaro on my left cheek, while feeling extremely self-conscious, I received a package from my colleagues at iVillage.com that included the ThermaClear Heat Enabled Acne Treatment device, a heated “zit-zapper.” Timing couldn’t have been more perfect – I’ll try anything once!

I quickly skimmed the instructions, inserted the batteries, and prepared myself for zapping. According to the pamphlet my two pimples were perfect candidates. They were newly formed and not server cystic in origin.  I decided to zap (apply the thermal pulse) to only one so I could compare their life spans. According to the pamphlet:

“Clinical trial results have demonstrated that pimples treated with ThermaClear cleared up in less than half the time vs pimples not treated with the device.”

Since my zits normally last 4-5 days, with twice daily zaps for two days, my fingers and toes were crossed and my shoelaces tied in hopes that the mountain on my cheek would magically disappear within 2.5 days.

While in wait, I did some due diligence and researched more conventional acne treatments. Though my skin may not be clear right now…still, what became clear is that companies have finally learned that acne is not just an issue for kids with raging hormones…folks over 25 suffer, too.

Check out a few more recent treatment introductions (mostly over-the-counter) that were made with mature Beauties (and Handsomes) in mind.  

And, oh, by the way…the zit I zapped with the “heat enabled” treatment? It’s still there and seemingly rising after 5 days. So, when it comes to my bi-monthly breakouts, personally, I’m sticking to the traditional, topical salicylic or glycolic acids washes, scrubs, pads, and spot treatments. But hey, according to ThermaClear’s website, it’s one of the best sellers on Sephora.com, so if you’re up for zapping and spending, perhaps it will make your spot run.

ThermaClear Acne Device, $149.95, www.sephora.com

The 3-step Programs (inclusive of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing):

 

Avon Clearskin Professional Acne System, $34, www.avon.com, launching late August.

The first of this three-step program uses an ingredient, Zinc Hexapeptide-11, exclusive to Avon that is meant to “restore balance” to oily skin. 

Neutrogena Dermatologics skin ID

** C&V EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY!!! Avon, Neutrogena, and Clinique are giving away two kits each. The first six readers to email me at Compactsandvignettes@gmail.com will win one of the kits. **

For the back:

My main point of concern: my backside. I’ve been using Glytone Back Spray 2% Salycilic Acid in water and alcohol, $28,

Got any special tricks? Do tell.

On a recent Sunday morning, I walked down the corridors from the elevator leading to my apartment with Abdul, the feisty, in-need-of-The-Dog-Whisperer Jack Russell, leading the way. We did what we often do before making our way back to our door: knocked on the door of my neighbor-brother-uncle-to-Abdul-friend,  “Mr. MK”.

A little about MK: He’s one of the kindest, most intelligent, stylish men I know. A former beauty/fashion industry insider, he’s toiled for Kiehl’s Since 1851 and Gucci. The funny? I’ve actually known MK for eight years but we accidentally and freakishly became neighbors almost 3 years ago. “Mr. MK” and I were destined to reconnect…on this side of the Hudson, no less, I’m sure of it. I cook dinner for MK, we have a wall-knock code, he often keeps Abdul while I travel, is sometimes my final consultation—or, at the very least, the voice in the mirror—when I’m dressing for a gala or a night on the town. All that is to say, I trust MK and he usually commends me for my sensibilities.

That was until the Sunday in question. I gently tickled my knuckles on his door. It was early. He opened and groggily offered a “Hey.” And then, whammo! 

“It’s Sunday, right? Didn’t you get your hair done yesterday?” he asked after barely greeting me.

Uhhh. I didn’t know what to say. I thought about it. (I get a blow out every Saturday, and for the last eight years, remember?) Then I responded, “Yes, of course!?” (Half declaring, half asking.)

“You got it flat-ironed? Straight?” he quizzed.

“Ummm. Yeah.” (Slightly annoyed.) I humbly continued with an explanation, simultaneously grabbing my ever so slightly bent ends. “[MK], it’s humid…hotter than a Costa Rican rainforest.”

“Dawg!” he said with pity. “There’s got to be something you can do.”

Abdul and I (pouting) walked the remaining 50 feet to our door in silence.

It was dramatic. But, had I just thrown $70, not including tolls and parking, down the drain? I thought to myself, humidity or not, hair, don’t fail me now!

The next day I called my celebrity hairstylist friend, A. Dickey (http://www.hairrules.com/) who recently launched a hair care line, Hair Rules, that advocates hair health and celebrates textured hair. I wanted to get to the root of my summer hair frizz so I begged for answers to two basic questions:

Tai: What causes hair to react to frizz?

A. Dickey: “Dryness! [Usually] due to conventional shampoos that strip and deplete hair of its natural oils.”

Tai:  How can a straight-haired, curly-haired, wavy and kinkier-haired gal keep it away…far, far away…like Costa Rica?

A. Dickey: “Whether kinky, curly, wavy, or straight, a fool proof way to prevent frizz, fly-aways, keep curls defined and straight hair smooth is to use shampoos that are sulfate-free or non-sudsing. Use leave-in conditioners that are light but hydrating. And carry a small finishing cream [or serum] around [in your purse] like a lipstick.

Straight-forward, no-non-sense answers that make sense. Thanks Dickey! My realistic concern?  Hydrating without looking like I just took a dip in an oil well.  (You know what I mean.)

Mr. MK, since I haven’t visited and don’t have plans to visit a rainforest at all this summer (though I’ll be training in the sweltering heat of NJ), I tested more than 15 cleansing, conditioning, and styling products to see which kept my strands neat but lightly in place. Here’s where my frizz-busting loyalties lie…for now.

Hair Rules Daily Cleansing Cream Moisturizing No Suds Shampoo

I took these with me to the salon a few weeks ago and asked them to use them. My normally, trés dry hair was soft and conditioned after the first shampoo and like melting butter at the end of the cold-rinse of the conditioner.

FHI Hot Sauce

When I want straight hair to be smooth for at least six hours, long enough to have a meeting without looking or feeling like a poodle, I coat my hair with a dollop of this “heated” serum before flat ironing. It packs on and seals in moisture and shine.

Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk, $3.99, drugstores

This works as a finishing cream on all hair textures. It tantalizes my senses, too. The light but creamy lotion conjures up thoughts of an orchard lined with apple, cherry, and mango trees. (Not that these fruits would grow all on one orchard.) Yum!  The container is a little to big to carry with, so I’ve poured a few dime-sized servings into a tiny, travel-well container.

So sexy is right!!! The bottle and my bouncy finished look! When I resigned to letting my locks do just what they do, this “very”-fragranced mist left my waves soft, defined, and fresh-looking.

By the way, Mr. MK, I’m now ready for a smooth close up!

C&V Giveaway Exclusive: The first 3 readers to email me at compactsandvignettes@gmail.com will receive an assortment of Hair Rules products to try for yourself. P.S.  A US mailing addy is required.

Are you a frizz-fighter? What products get the job done for you? Even better, what special or secret tip do you employ? Let the C&V community know!

Beauty-fully yours,

Tai

Ladies,

Let me start by saying…this entry is not for the faint at heart, sensitive skinned, or painfully (pun intended) shy.  Since most American women have abandoned their Neanderthal ways, hair removal in the 21^st Century is very much a routine if not a requisite. Some shave, others use depilatories, still others pluck, some thread, many wax, and more are beaming (laser-ing). And if you’re a true hair-contender, as I am, you probably have tried all of the above (at least once).  Ouch…I mean, oh, how I wish there were one method that worked smoothly for every body part. I prefer the precision of threading and plucking for my brows (I visit Thread in midtown Manhattan bi-weekly), a shave for my under arms and legs sans moisturizing cream (in my shower almost daily), and waxing for my “down there”– the mature focus of this entry.

I’ve waxed my (in the words of “friend-in-my-head,” Oprah) “vajayjay” religiously every 5-8 weeks for the last 8 years, year round: spring, summer, fall, and winter. At roughly $70 a session, plus the essential maintenance products: an exfoliant and anti-inflammatory/in-grown hair eliminator liquid or pads, I’d say, I’m pretty invested in my pubic life.

My relationship with my primary South-of-the-Border aesthetician, Bella W. of NYC’s Bliss Spa (www.blissworld.com), is an intimate one.  I feel like I know her newlywed daughter and entrepreneur son personally though I’ve only seen wedding and camera-phone pictures. She knows when my visit is one of maintenance or something else…like a vacation. She knows when I’m working out hard or going through an emotional eating phase. Bella knows.

I’ve personally referred at least 15 friends and colleagues to Bella over the years. Almost each one of them, like me, grew to attest that waxing “down-there” helped them experience a new level of femininity.  I always leave her table, even after reshaping my form as only a contortionist would, floating through the streets of NYC like a ballerina, stopping at each corner with the alluring confidence of a salsa dancer.  I feel all woman!

So when a “Brazilian Virgin” friend of mine, Ms. O, told me that she wanted to go completely bare before she returned to the heat of her temporary home in the desert, but had no clue what to do, what not to do, what to expect or how to maintain, I decided a simple guide was in order. And to put my mind in the spirit of being a “BV”, I went to a hair removal outpost I’d never visited, Completely Bare Downtown NYC (www.completelybare.com) and saw Lorraine.

WHAT TO DO:

• Schedule your wax one or two weeks after your period, never right before as your skin is typically more sensitive right before your menstruation.
• If you have a low tolerance for pain of discomfort, take a Tylenol or ibuprofen one hour before your wax, says Anita Schuessler, Education Manager for Bliss Spas.
• Take a relaxing shower or bath at the spa or as close to your appointment as possible, says Lorraine. It serves two purposes: you’ll feel fresh for your close up and ultimately more relaxed.
• Communicate with your aesthetician. Tell her if the wax feels too hot or if you have any skin sensitivity.

WHAT NOT TO DO:

• Don’t shave for at least three weeks before going for your appointment. Hair must be long enough (at least 1/8 of an inch) for the wax to grip.
• Don’t tense up. When you tense up your skin cannot be pulled taut by the aesthetician and is more likely tear. Practice a slow inhale and exhale.

EXPECT:

• A thorough and delicate wax BV should take at least 30 minutes.
• You may be asked to take a weird position like hold your knees to your chest or to lie in a froglike position.

ASK YOUR WAXER:

To use different a new depressor each time she applies wax. Double dipping into the wax is unsanitary.

To wax in small sections, especially if your skin is sensitive. And if you skin is extremely sensitive, ask her to do a small patch test on your inner thigh.

AFTER: 

• DAY OF: If red use an anti-inflammatory cream, gel, liquid made with hydrocortisone or al natural aloe.
• DAY OF: Exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin and minimize the chance of ingrowns.
• DAY AFTER then TWICE A DAY: Use a salicylic-infused in-grown hair eliminator liquid or pads.
• DAILY: Just add moisture.

Needless to say, I loved Lorraine. And when I can’t get to Bella, I’ll head to her. Hellllooo, sunshine! Hello, shoreline! Hello, Brazil!

Tai

Tai’s BV Essentials:

 

Carol’s Daughter SweetHoneyDip ChocolateBrownSugah Scrub, $34.00, CarolsDaughter.com. The name says it all.

 

Bliss In grown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads, $38, Blissworld.com. Pads are a lot less mess than liquid and travel with ease.

 

The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost, $26, TheBodyShop.com. Hydration is key. A serum or hydrator made with Vitamin C will help revive skin and make skin look less dull, a common side effect from waxing.

 

Completely Bare Completely Smooth For Body, $42, CompletelyBare.com helps my wax go the distance. When I’m fortunate (and less hormonal), with this juice, my BV lasts for 7-8 weeks.

Have you ever had a Brazilian bikini wax? Do you prefer a regular to a BV? Why? Any wax or hair removal questions? Ask away!

Hi Ladies,

So this entry is about two things:

First, I’m trying desperately to live a greener life!

I’ve become a stickler about turning off lights when I’m not in a room, I have begun to use only eco-friendly cleaning products (love Mrs. Meyers and recently tried Fruits & Passion Art Home line and fell in serious like), and where possible, concealer and spray-tan aside, I like my “get-dolled-up” beauty products to, well, be earth-conscious. And if they’re not just so yet, I certainly recycle their containers when I’ve consumed every drop or particle.

Secondly, and perhaps slightly superficial or even oxymoronic: It’s difficult for me to resist great packaging. In fact, I can appreciate the glitzy, ornate packaging of Estee Lauder (gorg!) as much as I can the minimalist package designs of, let’s say, Calvin Klein (exquisite!). I mean, really, we’ve all purchased something—a fragrance, a book, a cheek tint, a bottle of fancy-looking wine – based purely on its ultra-chic or glamorous-looking exterior.

I recently put out a call to a crop of beauty and lifestyle publicists that I wanted to test the some “eco-chic” booty. And, oh my, was my call answered! I received (and still am receiving) tons of skin care and cosmetic lines that I am putting to the test before judging…and recommending to you. However, there was one earth-wise sample that landed on my counter that bagged it, it cleverly gives us all a starting point for going green beauty-fully.

Whether you’re hopping a plane, train, bus, or perhaps opting for a stay-cation, your toiletries deserve a cute and healthy place to rest, too. And when you remove it from you’re larger tote, the statement is just well…so on point!

Target Natural Bag: “My bag is better than your bag” Train Case, $14.99, Targe