Category: Beauty

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Beauty Business Featured Health

Downtown Q&A: Celine Kaplan and Amy Focazio

Photo by Stephane Baunach

Meet the fierce duo taking the NYC public relations world by storm. Celine Kaplan is a PR pioneer and founder of her own luxury boutique agency, CKPR. By her side is her managing partner, Amy Focazio; a maven in her own right. Focazio has over 20 years of public relations experience, 16 years at Estee Lauder, and 12 at M.A.C. Cosmetics.

CKPR has had to evolve with the times, modernizing and rebranding to better suit today’s climate. For instance, they partner with influencers, an important facet of the public relations world. The agency’s current clients include Ladurée, Orveda, Clinique La Prairie, and Le Bon Marche Rive Gauche, to name a few (no biggie). 

These two close friends and business partners might have different approaches to business. However, get a glimpse of their synergy, and you might find that these two great minds think alike.

Meet Celine

Downtown: What brought you to the US?
Celine Kaplan: As A French woman – it was a love story of course… then I fell in love with NY…

DT: How did you get started in your industry?
CK: I started in the art world arriving in NY — then realized I needed to pay bills and worked at AIR FRANCE for the Terminal One project in public relations- that is when I realized the power of the press.

My passion was beauty and fashion so I was able to start working for Bourjois and Eres (part of the Chanel Company Limited). [This] lead me to open my own boutique agency with Eres, Laduree, and The Webster…to name a few.

DT: What is the most difficult thing to accomplish in public relations when you have a new client?
CK: TRUST. PR is a long-term investment and clients need to know that you will absolutely do what is right for the brand but it takes time… Even if it is saying NO to certain opportunities.

DT: Do you find it more difficult to get products covered in print than online?
CK: Print for sure… the print publications have a limited amount of pages, that’s all.

DT: Do most brands prefer online advertising?
CK: Brands LOVE both and always want it all. Our clients are luxury so print is still major.

DT: What industry is most prominent for the brands that you work with at your agency?
CK: At the moment, beauty and lifestyle. Fashion post-COVID has been more challenging.

DT: What is it like to work with a partner? Furthermore, what strength differentiates you from your partner, and vice versa?
CK: It’s the best tool and weapon…to ideate, to share, to negotiate… Amy and I have been friends for over 20 years. We have the same taste and understanding for luxury but very different strengths.

Amy is Type A so everything needs to be perfect. She comes from a corporate background and is methodical, strategic, laser-focused on the details, a natural leader…. and she has a wicked sense of humor! I will let her answer about my strengths.

DT: What do you look for in new clients?
CK: I always say if I already bought your product I can do a good job… I guess it’s called Sex appeal.

DT: Who inspires you most?
CK: Women in general – collectively… wives, mothers, lovers, businesswomen all at once. It’s impressive.

DT: What do you hope to achieve by this interview with Downtown Magazine?
CK: World fame and recognition… kidding. New business leads would be great of course.

DT: What is your favorite place in Lower Manhattan?
CK: Laduree, The RealReal, Bode, the Frankie Shop, The Brant Foundation, The Swiss Institute, The Whitney… not in that order.

DT: Where do you go to relax in NYC? Downtown?
CK: Well, I am lucky enough to have one of my close friends who is a chef founder, and owner of Left Bank and rotisserie chicken Poulet Sans Tete in the West Village… and it is my home away from home.

Biking, running, walking near the Hudson is always calming and relaxing. [As for] Uptown, I love The Mandarin Hotel spa and The MET.

Photo by Stephane Baunach

Meet Amy

Downtown: How did you get started in your industry?
Amy Focazio: I have always loved fashion and beauty. When I was 13 I had a pipedream and wanted to be a model…. I’m 5’4 mind you. Let’s just say that didn’t work out! Right out of college my sister kicked off her career in Fashion Public Relations. As soon as I was handed my diploma I beelined it for NYC and interned at her PR agency. The rest is history.

DT: Where did you go to university?
AF: Ithaca college. I grew up in New Canaan and love nature. Ithaca is beautiful, but the winters are brutal.

DT: What is the most difficult thing to accomplish in public relations when you have a new client?
AF: We have launched a lot of new brands and it takes time to build awareness. Managing expectations is the first thing that comes to mind, but when the brand finally takes off there’s nothing more satisfying for us. It’s the best feeling. Also, PR really needs to be a long-term relationship, not a one-off.

DT: Do you find it more difficult to get products covered in print than online?
AF: Yes, but having longstanding relationships with the press certainly helps.

DT: Do most brands prefer online?
AF: That would be a yes. For luxury brands, seeing their product in the glossy pages of a magazine is still important.

DT: What industry is most prominent for the brands that you work with at your agency?
AF: So many… Beauty, Fashion, Home, Hospitality, Travel.

DT: What is it like to work with a partner? Furthermore, what strength differentiates you from your partner, and vice versa?
AF: Celine and I are polar opposites. Her head is in the sky. She’s very creative and impulsive, imaginative, a master networker. Organization is not her strength but it all gets done… Her sense of humor is through the roof. We laugh all day long.

DT: What do you look for in new clients?
AF: Celine and I share the same philosophy…. We have to love the brand, [and] want to buy it. We can’t promote a brand to the press and consumers if we don’t believe in it. It’s also important that they are cognizant [of] the issues we face today. It’s important to consumers that brands are responsible.

DT: Who inspires you most?
AF: People that are not afraid to speak out about important issues. Who use their voice for the greater good. It’s beyond inspiring.

DT: What do hope to achieve by this interview with Downtown Magazine?
AF: Fame, fortune, and glory…. All joking aside, I love Downtown Magazine and I’m excited that we’re doing this. Of course, new business opportunities would be great.

DT: What is your favorite place in Lower Manhattan?
AF: Of course Ladurée. I’m a vegetarian and the vegan eggs and croissants are to die for. My husband is French and Lucien always makes him happy. The Warm Store in Nolita and New Museum is always a go-to for me.

DT: Where do you go to relax in NYC? Downtown?
AF: I lived in Tribeca for a long time and my sanctuary was going to the Hudson River. I love to be near water… it’s calming. As Celine and I have been friends for 20 years we share a lot of the same friends. Our friend who is the owner and chef of Left Bank restaurant in the West Village is like family. We go regularly … it has a great vibe. ★

For more Downtown Q&A, click here.

Categories
Beauty Health Wellness

How to make your own aloe gel

As we begin to enjoy summer activities, we may also get something we don’t enjoy: sunburns. If you have an aloe vera plant, an easy way to relieve your sunburn is to use aloe gel on the burn.

Benefits of Aloe Gel

Aloe gel not only relieves sunburns, but it is also help moisturize skin. Aloe gel can also help with redness and irritated skin. For those of us who really want healthy skin this summer, aloe gel is a must have. It’s really easy to make your own!

All you need is:

  • A blender
  • A knife
  • A cup
  • A small spoon
  • Essential oils (optional)
  • A container to keep your gel in

First, cut the outermost leaf off of your aloe vera plant. Once you cut a leaf on an aloe vera plant, it will stop growing, so it is recommended that you cut the whole leaf off. Next, sit the leaf upright in a cup and leave for 15-20 minutes. This will drain out a yellow substance from the leaf called resin. 

After the 15-20 minutes are up, wash the leaf off to make sure there is not any dirt on the leaf. Next, cut the top part of the leaf off with a sharp knife and spoon the gel into the blender. Make sure that none of the green parts of the leaf make it into the mix. Finally blend the gel and move to a container. Mix in essential oils if you choose to do so. If you are not planning on using the gel right away, store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

 

Categories
Beauty Culture Lifestyle News NYC

Honey Do, When Coloring Your Hair is Added to His list?

 

 

2020 – 2021 lockdown will be remembered for years to come. Not only we will look back on the thousands, of hysterical funny videos, of entire families lip-syncing and dancing on
TicToK to Justin Bieber songs, watching our favorite celebrity’s cooking videos, self-shot in their own kitchens, to couples cutting and coloring their partner’s hair.

Did you ever think that you would let your other-half color or cut your hair?

The good news is that hair salons have re-opened and like me, many gladly masked and gloved up to venture back to see our favorite professional colorist, and stylist.

When I heard that one of our favorite make-up artists, and cosmetician with Sisley Paris, here in New York City was going to let her husband once again, color her hair, we stepped in!

When it comes to color, we must be careful, chemicals in hair coloring can damage your hair, especially if the color is not applied properly.

Our advice is to go to a professional salon, hair colorist, with professional-grade ingredients and application methods to ensure that your hair does not end up damaged, dry, or possibly even turning into a color you were not going for. Even worse, you could end up severely damaging your hair.  If you want to become a platinum blonde without damaging your hair, then your hair colorist is the only one you should trust with your coloring and hair health. A professional colorist also has the knowledge and training to apply chemicals required, in the correct order to achieve the look you want.

 

Fekkai Soho New York City

 

At Downtown, we like giving give back to those who are there for us. Hence, our reason for stepping in before another husband completed his honey-do list. We gladly sent Marcia, one of our make-up artists, to the world-famous Fekkai Salon in Soho for color-correction after a long lockdown and home coloring.

Following the process, we asked the colorist Rae Ann Cotto a few questions:

Fekkai – Soho New York City

DTM: When did you start working in hair color?

RC: I started doing color 6 years ago. I got my job at Fekkai about a year after high school and spent time learning color theory and techniques before actually taking care of clients.

DTM: What inspired you?

RC: Since I was a child, I’ve been interested in all things beauty. Always wanting my hair done, playing with a red drugstore lipstick, I begged my mother to buy me. But it wasn’t until I was a teenager, with certain insecurities teens experience, that I decided to go to school to learn how to do the things that would teach me not only to appreciate my own beauty but to love it.

DTM: How do you know what color to color Marcia’s hair? It was stunning… really, beautiful great work Rae Ann!

RC: When it came to Marcia’s hair, I started with the basics looking at it, and asking her what she thought about her color, we both came to the same conclusion… it’s red. Too red. Using my knowledge of the color wheel, if I want to tone out red, I needed to use green. Also, knowing she wanted to lighten her roots, I opted for a neutral medium brown with green undertones. After bringing her to a solid more natural brown, I added some highlights around her face so she could feel nice and bright while keeping dimension in her beautiful thick hair!

 

 

Before – Marcia’s Color

 

DTM: With the COVID lockdown, have you experienced more botched DIY hair disasters coming in?  a.) Is there ever a time when you cannot fix their hair?

RC: I was very surprised to not have a lot of corrections after returning to work! Even for me at the beginning working in color can be intimidating, and I think some people, really felt that at home. Doing corrections, the most important thing, and definitely the #1 rule for my work, is keeping the integrity of the hair. The only time a correction can’t be done is if it involves an excessive amount of potentially damaging elements like heat or bleach.

5. What is your favorite part of being a hair colorist?

RC: My favorite thing about being a colorist is I get to be the one to help people feel their best! I get to provide care and be apart of people’s self-care journey!

6. Any advice to give to our readers who may want to come in for color but are worried to leave their home during this pandemic?

RC: At Fekkai, we have a mission statement that starts with “Frederic Fekkai the leader in luxury clean hair care”, and that’s exactly what we are! We are clean, we are safe, and we do everything we can to make our clients feel that way too. For anyone that isn’t comfortable yet, you have nothing to fear, but whenever you’re ready, we’re here for you!

 

After Color with Rae Ann of Fekkai Soho

 

DTM: Anything you would like to share about your work?

RC: I am so in love with what I do. I’m passionate about what I do. Whether I wake up on a good day, or a not so good day, my passion and excitement never change. And it’s not just the hair, it’s every aspect of what I do; I love meeting new people, bonding with them, enhancing their beauty, and making them feel pampered, and then taken care of them for as long as they’re in my chair. I’m warm, bubbly, and welcoming, and I love having fun with everything I do. It’s so important to not only show this side through my work, but to have my clients experience the energy, feel it, and spread it too!

Rae Ann Cotto, Fekkai Soho New York City

We think that Rae Ann, has a very long career ahead of her, and we thank her for her excellent answers.

Categories
Beauty Featured Finance Lifestyle Living NYC Wellness

Downtown’s Ultimate Beauty Gift Guide 2020

Downtown's Ultimate Beauty Gift Guide 2020
Andrea Piacquadio Pexels

 

We can all agree that 2020 was a year like no other, and it will go down in history as one of the most difficult collective challenges in our lifetimes. As the hashtag says, #weareinthistogether. No matter your level of income, age, skin color, or which part of the world you live in, we all had to rethink how we get from morning to night, facing challenges like working remotely and DIY beauty regimens.

We are grateful that our favorite brands made 2020 easier for us. We figured out how to get through it, even if it meant that our hair colorist had to drop off a premixed color formula so that our dear life partners (or children) could apply.

It may not have been a pretty sight, but from the creative photos on social media, it certainly came with a large dose of humility and humor.

This year we have decided to honor the brands who were there for our company in our Downtown’s 2020 Ultimate Beauty Gift Guide.

Here are a few of our favs!

 

Supremÿa Eyes at Night. Exceptional night skin care dedicated to revealing the youth of the eyes.

 

 

Supremÿa Cream An exceptional night treatment specifically for dry skin or skin lacking comfort, which targets the visible signs of aging to offer noticeably enhanced rejuvenation.

 

 

Scent Sational gifts from Sisley Paris. Sisley continues the original collaboration with artist Quentin Jones celebrating Izia in a new package inspired by her colorful ‘rock’ universe. Collages of roses, fluorescent ink, and flecks of paint boldly decorate the box. Its delicacy and lightness contrast with the ‘rock’ design of the box and echo the singular rose at the heart of the fragrance.

 

 

A limited-edition holiday bundle of 3 bestsellers from Bali Body, Ultra Dark Self Tan, Face Tan Water & BB Cream, it’s everything you need for the perfect glow. In a festive gift box!

 

 

Roam Slippers

 

 

ROAM slippers and sandals are all about comfort. They have custom-molded footbeds that are pillow soft while completely supporting your feet. The mid-soles are wrapped in neoprene for wicking and breathability, keeping your feet cool. There is also memory foam added to the uppers that allow the shoes to mold and form to your feet – truly creating a hug for your feet.

 

TYME

​Make ​​travel and everyday styling easier, and faster with Tyme. Combining many different size curling irons with a straightener. No more cluttered drawers, cabinets, and suitcases – just one tool.

One of our Publisher’s new FAV!

 

 

 

Joon Saffron Rose shampoo, this gentle conditioner detangles, hydrates, and smoothes hair. Used in traditional Persian beauty rituals for centuries, the “Antioxidant Powerhouse” created by Saffron, Rose, Pistachio and Pomegranate nourish and strengthen the hair strand while restoring elasticity, making your hair look/feel softer, stronger, and healthier.

Persians have used Saffron, Pistachio, and Rose in beauty rituals for centuries. Saffron, a spice worth more than its weight in gold, is used to strengthen hair. Pistachio nourishes and moisturizes for bouncy and smooth hair.

Coming from a haircare background, Shiva and Kayvon Tavakoli spent their entire lives in the salon haircare world. Their father came to the US when he was 17 years old and after moving to Houston, built a successful salon empire and haircare laboratory.

 

 

 

Joanna Vargas, We needed something to help keep our beauty regiment up, as we all worked from home, spas, and salons were closed during the quarantine. For a wide-awake look, with or without concealer, use the Magic Glow Wand to reduce the appearance of puffiness, invigorating your complexion, bringing your glow back.

 

Use it with a serum or mask for an unbelievably soft and radiant look!

 

One of our newest discoveries Deborah Lippman’s, hand and feet moisturizer, trust us, it will change your hands and feet forever. With the hard winter approaching, start now and by spring you will feel like a new person!

Your hands are the first to reveal your age. Keep them guessing with this award-winning cream formulated with shea butter, avocado, and jojoba oil. Winner of Health Magazine’s Healthiest Hand Cream, as voted by leading dermatologists Broad spectrum SPF 25 sunscreen protects from the sun’s UVA and UVB harmful rays Shea butter, Avocado, and Jojoba oil keep hands moisturized Botanical brightening complex helps to even skin tone.

 

 

 

 

Again for the 3rd year in a row, we are including BrooklynBotany. We cannot get through a winter without their scrubs and now new Sweet Almond oil.

This holiday season we sampled their new Blueberry Scrub, all we can say is THANK YOU Brooklyn Botany. Our dry skin feels renewed, and radiant, the winter dry itch is gone.

 

 

Sweet Almond Oil, the perfect name for Brooklyn Botnay’s oil..  sweet it is, very mild, and hypoallergenic. This oil is safe to be used for almost all skin types including sensitive, dry, and oily skin. It can even be used on children and babies skin.

 

Can’t get to St Barth this year, no worries, they bring their delightful products to you. And, just in time for Christmas with Ligne St. Barth

Feel the beauty of the island – surrounded by warmth, a breath of wind cools your cheeks. Sea Breeze embodies the lightness of a tropical summer day: with the deep blue Blue Lagoon shower gel, tingling like a bath in the surf. Try this sun splash, with grapefruit as an invigorating freshness accord. This beguiling Premium Care Oil gives your body, face, and hair, a golden sheen.

 

 

 

We cannot get enough of this brand. Anything they make it superb. We love the new refill pouch. Sustainability is here for Ouai.

We have tried many dry shampoo’s and it can be hit or miss. But not with Ouai’s Super Dry Shampoo. Works every time and does not leave your hair unruly or limp.

 

 

Ready for a private dinner at home for two, or just want to feel sexy? Intensely seductive, Good Girl Eau de Parfum Carolina Herrera’s Suprême reinvents the iconic Good Girl fragrance with a daring new formula. Redefining the emblematic contrast of lights and shadows encourages you to connect with your rebellious side. Grab one for a delicious stocking stuffer.

 

One does not think about body serum. However, we have been using Immunocologie body serum for years. Yes, it does moisturize, repair, and restore. It’s very light to the touch but deeply moisturizes. A dry oil intended for full-body application. We found that after a bath or shower apply, and leave on your skin all day and or night, it’s silky smooth and your skin will feel radiant and restored.

 

 

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown Give the gift of luxury to your loved one, or maybe the gift you have been looking for yourself. Join Downtown New York’s newest intimate space Club 27 where you can focus on your personal fitness and wellness goals, surrounded by inspiration and without any distractions.

 

Mudras.com

 

With this signature bespoke massage treatment, you will experience the magically unique and tailor-made Body Reset massage. This is considered a secret weapon for many of our #MudrasFam. The BodyReset Technique was developed by Yotam Kafri founder of Mudras.com Holiday special for first-time clients. Get 30% off on your first session!
Mention Downtown Magazine to get your special offer. LIMITED TIME ONLY!

 

 

Get your gift certificate now!

 

For those who are enjoying the sheer pleasure of CDB, these are our picks for the 2020 Holiday Season

 

 

 

Meet our first CBD infused moisturizer specifically formulated for the face. Lord Jones Whole Plant Formula Acid Mantle Repair is a soothing CBD moisturizer formulated to help maintain the acid mantle, support the skin’s moisture barrier, and rebalance the appearance of stressed skin.* Each jar contains 250mg of CBD (<0.3% THC).

 

Treat the CBD purist in your life to a trio of our most popular Lord Jones products gumdrops, body lotion, and Royal Oil.

 

 

 

These premium tinctures contain 500mg of full-spectrum CBD derived from specially-sourced hemp for unparalleled purity and quality. Each dropper delivers approximately 20mg of CBD. Available in two flavors, Orange and Peppermint.

 

 

Her Royal Hempress

Her Royal Hempress skincare collection is defined by synergistic, small-batch blends of CBD and potent botanical actives that have been specially crafted with the highest attention to detail. Created by a generational, social-conscious gardener & mother Emma Spivey, Her Highness uses powerful botanical ingredients to complement the transformative CBD to leave skin feeling naturally radiant and for therapeutic relief. 

Her Highness 

Her Highness is a cannabis lifestyle brand based in New York with a curated collection of cannabis, CBD, and consumption essentials designed with the modern consumer in mind. Her Highness product is thoughtfully designed with the intent of bringing cannabis into a woman’s world, not the other way around. With a dynamic range of stylish, high-quality products for smoking, stress relief, self-care, and pleasure, Her Highness satisfies every cannabis craving.

New Highs CBD

New Highs CBD hopes to enlighten and empower women and men towards the path of an elevated lifestyle utilizing the healing properties of CBD. New Highs products invigorate the mind, body, and soul-lifting up high while remaining non-intoxicating.

“Dr. Kerklaan Therapeutics inspired by his desire to help my patients. In 2013, patients started asking about CBD and their health. He took the opportunity to research, study, and attended conferences in order to confidently provide answers to patients who were asking about the health benefits of CBD. Here are just some of our favorite products.

Deep moisturizing lotion utilizing condensed red ginseng water that strengthens the skin barrier and balances the pH for healthy and luminous skin. Donginbi Red Ginseng. DONGINBI was created in 1899, based on internationally recognized manufacturing company Cheong Kwan Jang’s philosophy of creating Korean red ginseng for external use.

Botanika life has a wide array of products catering to an active and healthy lifestyle.  Improving what already works by bringing in nature’s miracle ingredient CBD.

 

Whatever your plans for this holiday season, stay safe, do not gather in large crowds, think about your loved ones and, wear a mask. We look forward to seeing you in 2021.

 

From our home to yours Happy Holidays!

Categories
Beauty Featured Finance NYC

Hawa Cosmetics Flawless Coverage

The coverage for female entrepreneurs receive is essential to expanding their impact and to get noticed. Therefore, as we wrap up one of our most difficult years 2020, we thought it fitting to highlight a brand that we feel deserves coverage.

Women from all industry’s, education, and ethnicity, every day are creating new products, start-up businesses, and cutting edge procedures from real estate, to cosmetics. These women are changing the way we view entrepreneurs, shop for new brands, and are showing determination, and fearlessness.

Hawa Cosmetics was created for its namesake, a working makeup artist, and model, with over a decade of being a makeup artist who saw first-hand women’s confusion and frustration at gimmicky products and confusing beauty regimes.

 

DTM: How did you come about creating a cosmetic company/brand?
CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: How I came about creating a cosmetic brand started with me working for major cosmetic companies. To name a few; Clinique, Dermablend, Bobbi Brown, Tom Ford Beauty, Sisley, and a few others that are under the Estée Lauder umbrella. I was a top Makeup artist and selling producer for the color lines. So it gave me an edge on what women were looking for. Which made it easy to create a brand.
DTM: How long have you been in the beauty industry?

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: I’ve been a professional makeup artist for over 20yrs. Best time of my life!

DTM: What makes your brand stand out above the rest and what do you want our readers to know?

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: What makes my brand stand out above the rest is that Hawa Cosmetics is made with quality. I select and create colors that really work on All skin tones. A line created by a working makeup artist who touches and talks to every client about her needs.

DTM: It looks like you’re a New Yorker, how has Covid affected your business? 

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: COVID has affected all businesses. But what I’ve learned is that you must stay open to reinventing yourself. I’ve learned that social media is my key to doing Supreme business.

DTM: If you could change one thing in the cosmetic/beauty industry what would it be?

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: If I could change one thing in the industry it would be Creating a system where makeup artist can have virtue one on one consultations with clients to ensure excellent customer service.

DTM: What’s the best way for consumers to become educated on how cosmetics are made and what they should look for when purchasing cosmetics?

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: The best way for customers to become educated in cosmetics is to utilize your PC. You can google everything today., I personally love YouTube, you receive so many reviews facts, and opinions on cosmetics. I Believe You should look for quality in products. I can not stress this enough. Drug store brands are Stepping up to High-end brands in this category.

DTM: Being a woman of color and selling makeup to different types of skin and color pigment, how difficult is that and is there a difference in the skin? 

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: Being a woman of color selling makeup to all women was easy for me. As I worked for major Cosmetic brands in Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman, Barnes, Neman Marcus, Saks, CosBar, and the Carlyle Hotel. These locations have had me Makeover every woman and man imaginable.

There is a difference in skin tones and texture but that comes with an expert eye.

DTM: When you were a little girl was that something you always played with and dreamed of make-up and beauty? 

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: As a little girl I would always play in my Grandma “Pascuala Vasquez makeup. My grandma RIP was born in the 1920s
I couldn’t wait for the day for me to shave off all of my Natural brows and draw them on with a jet black eyeliner pencil like her. Her vanity table was my dream., Loads of makeup, lipstick, and Perfume.
She was a lady.
DTM: What is all the hype about botanicals and what difference do botanicals make in skincare?

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: The Hype of Botanicals stands true. Botanicals can make promising skincare. Natural Botanicals has anti-aging properties that help calm and firm skin. It can also help with acne, reducing redness and it’s ideal for soothing sensitive skin. There are so many benefits to natural plant extracts.

DTM: We’re thrilled to have you in the print Holiday gift guide for 2020, we have sampled your products and we enjoy them and feel that they’re good solid quality. The coverage is exceptional. Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers that we have not asked you?

CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul: We all at Hawa Cosmetics are ecstatic to be in the Holiday Gift Guide for 2020! I am happy that everyone has enjoyed the quality of the products. It means the world to me. I want to thank every woman who has poured into me their concern and need over the years that helped me to create a brand that all women will enjoy. 
“I want to thank the CEO Of Downtown Magazine Grace A. Capobianco for having me in this special issue. I would also like to thank my dear friend Marcia Nakaydo for believing in the brand. We have worked together in this beauty industry for years. Let’s have a wonderful Holiday. Thank you. CEO and Owner Hawa Abdul”
Categories
Beauty Featured

From Russia with Love – A Sit Down with Dmitry Irshinskiy of FEKKAI

I live by the rule to never look for a bargain when it comes to comfort, injectables, and hair. Some hairstylists also do color, in addition to cut and styling. I choose not to go to a hairstylist for my color. My personal experience is that these are very different skills.

Ladies, you would not go to your gynecologist for injectables, they why should you cheat your hair out of an expert colorist?

Whether you want a complete color overhaul, a new season upgrade, or to just further enhance what you’ve already got, I highly recommend Dmitry Ieshinskiy.

2021 is right around the corner, the holidays are coming and you have been self coloring since March, its time!

I had the chance to ask my colorist a few questions,

 

 

DTM: Where did you grow up?

DI: I grew up in Russia

DTM: When did you decide that you wanted to be a colorist, where did you study and who was your biggest influence?

DI: I knew I liked hair at the age of 5, I knew I loved it at the age of 21 in Virginia Beach, where I started at a posh beach hair studio as an assistant.
Everyone I’ve ever worked with from day one has been an inspiration for me. Tammy Sherman, the creative director of color at FEKKAI the Mark, who trained me, is one of those people. Among celebrity colorists I’ve always looked up to Tracy Cunningham of LA, Her skill set is phenomenal, and she has a humble personality.

DTM: What color trends are coming for the holidays and the first quarter of 2021?

DI: Do what looks best on you. If we talk trends, warm it up and tone it down. Apple cider, spice, cinnamon, every shade of coffee and creme there is. If you’re a blonde, try going a level deeper, create tone! It’s like putting makeup on. And don’t forget the reds!

DTM: We see more and more women letting their grey grow in, what are your thoughts, and how does one maintain their best grey?

DI: Grey hair is part of hair fashion too. Do not forget that! Otherwise, it’s simply going to age you. Rule of thumb: you must generally look good in silver vs. gold. Winter-type pale skin with pink undertone and icy-blue eyes are a plus.

 

From Russia with Love - A Sit Down with Dmitry Irshinskiy of FEKKAI

DTM: Which color is the hardest to maintain and do you have any tips for our readers?

DI: Haircolorists say: Reds are the hardest to keep and the hardest to get rid of. My advice: don’t wash your hair every day, use cooler water. Ultimately, it’s all about color care products. Take out all sulfate-based shampoos. FEKKAI color technician shampoo and masque once or twice a week!

DTM: Is there a certain age when one should not have to consider blues, greens, purples etc?

DI: Age has nothing to do with it. My advice is: don’t be afraid to ask your colorist about it. Hair color is more about who you are, not how old you are. Plus, there is a variety of softer shades of bold colors, that can create some really sophisticated looks. One of my clients is a tech CEO from San Francisco. She has grey hair with a few true blue highlights. She’s never had that much fun with her hair and everyone loved it too.

DTM: Fekkai has done such a great job protecting its clients, and team during these unprecedented times, how does it feel to work with a brand that truly cares?

DI: It’s the company’s first priority right now. FEKKAI has been taking unprecedented measures to protect both, clients and employees. It’s the company’s first priority right now.

DTM: Where do you go to the downtown area, when you need to relax and get that downtown fix?

 

 

 

DI: My downtown go-to’s. It’s either Equinox Noho or Equinox Wall Street. LOLL Soho has been great during the pandemic, Cipriani on West Broadway always made me feel like we still live in a “normal” world. Food, wine, service, and ambiance- always a delightful experience. And there’s nothing better than a stroll (run?) along the west side highway towards Brookfield place marina to see the best sunset over Hudson. Beauty is everywhere and it’s free for all.

 

From Russia with Love - A Sit Down with Dmitry Irshinskiy of FEKKAI
Dmitry Ieshinskiy

 

DTM: Is there anything you would like to share with our readers?

DI: The one thing I’d like to add is that I wish everyone finds joy during this holiday season. Take good care of yourself. It’s important. A Russian writer, Dostoyevsky, once said: “Beauty will save the world” The phrase is extremely popular and widely used in Russia, and I believe it to be 100% true. Basically, it’s my motto.