Tag: haircare

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Beauty Featured Uncategorized

CLEAN, GREEN, AND BEAUTIFUL

 

Pamper yourself with these eco-friendly products that will glam your style.

 

LIGHT BRITE Naturally clean teeth are possible with Dr. Brite Naturals Whitening Toothpaste, which is formulated with sustainable and effective plant-based ingredients that are safe to swallow and include no artificial sweeteners or colors. Dr. Brite products are created in small batches in their California headquarters, using ingredients sourced from the United States and India (neem oil), and with minimal packaging. drbrite.com

 

BRUSH UP Help skin achieve its best glow by invigorating the lymphatic system with The Ritual Brush by Joanna Vargas. Made from all-natural materials, the brush is designed to stimulate circulation when used on dry skin before bathing. All of the beauty powerhouse’s products are packaged in FSC paper, glass, and recycled plastic, and are cruelty-free and 100% vegan. joannavargas.com

 

DISCO DANCING

A cleansing and energizing body wash for men containing eucalyptus, aloe, and papaya, Disco Body Wash uses clean ingredients that are vegan as well as gluten, aluminum, cruelty, paraben, and sulfate-free. All products come in sustainable and recyclable packaging, and through their membership program, you can put your skincare routine on repeat. letsdisco.com

 

 

BODY BEAUTIFUL

More than 95 percent of the ingredients in Kjaer Wise’s The Beautiful Oil come from organic, sustainable, and biodynamic sources and are certified organic by the CCBP. The oil is loaded with nutrient-rich botanicals like moringa, rosemary, and ginkgo biloba. kjaerweis.com

 

A HIGHER BAR

Luxurious, salon-style shampoo and conditioner bars by HiBar save on packaging and shipping costs without sacrificing quality haircare. Available by subscription or single purchase, in three formulas: Moisturize, Volumize, and Maintain. HiBar arrives in plastic-free packaging, is cruelty-free, and formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicone, or phthalates. hellohibar.com

 

 

FULL BLOWN

Achieve maximum volume and airy texture for fine hair with Fekkai’s Full Blown Volume Dry Texturizing Spray. This salon-quality, high-performance products also provide our planet with a deep cleanse by creating packaging from 95% recycled plastic, and they are vegan and cruelty-free, as well as free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, and phthalates. fekkai.com

 

 

STRESS LESS

Filled with soothing patchouli, lavender essential oils, antioxidant rosemary, and refreshing eucalyptus, Indie Lee’s DeStress Body Wash is COSMOS-certified, which is a leading third-party global certification process. All products are packaged in glass jars or recycled plastic tubes and use FSC-certified paper. indielee.com

 

 

SHINE TIME

Shampoos and conditioners from Davines OI are steeped in nourishing Roucou oil—an antioxidant-rich Amazonian plant that helps repair cell damage from UV rays–to maintain softness, shine, and volume. The company has pledged to align with the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the UN and compensates for their own CO2 emissions. In 2018 they eliminated the use of fossil fuels in their company headquarters in Parma, Italy. us.davines.com

 

 

VITAMIN BEAUTY

All of the essential nutrients you need are included in DL.MD 13.5.1 Multivitamin, without fillers or excess ingredients. It is a liquid formulated for maximum absorption, and the Myron glass bottles that store the formula guard the product’s effectiveness. The company gives back by helping to supply essential vitamins and nutrients to children in need. thedlmd.com

 

 

SMART SCENT

Delicate underarm skin can breathe a sigh of relief with Smarty Pits deodorants. Founded by Stacia Guzzo when she decided to go aluminum-free in response to her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis, the lightly scented deodorants are powered by prebiotics which helps to nourish the good bacteria living on your skin. They are also phthalate-free, paraben-free, propylene glycol-free, and cruelty-free. Smarty Pits deodorants are available in a super-strength formula as well as a sensitive skin version that is baking soda-free. smartypits.com

 

 

REWILD YOURSELF

The Naturally Considerate line of self-care products was created by Manda Kalimian, founder of the Cana Foundation. The range, which includes gentle, sustainable, naturally fragranced cleansers and moisturizers, also comes with ceremonial sage smudge sticks and instructions on how to get back to nature. Naturally Considerate products are designed to work harmoniously with each other and with nature to benefit your skin and bring out the best within your body and life.

The products are free of parabens, dyes, and harsh chemicals, and are never tested on animals. They are formulated with pure, organic, and wildcrafted essential oils. These gifts from nature synergistically assist the skin’s natural desire to revive, refresh, and rejuvenate; while encouraging healing for your mind, body, and spirit.

The line includes Reflection face serum (above), which is formulated with clary sage, hemp, and neroli; Running Creek face wash; Well Being body lotion; Rewild Sacred spritz face toner; Whitewater body wash, and Speak Only Love lip balm. The company’s commitment is based on reducing or eliminating their carbon footprint as much as possible to provide truly sustainable, natural skincare products. All proceeds support the efforts of the Cana Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. dedicated to the conservation and protection of native wild horses. naturallyconsiderate.com

Categories
Beauty Featured NYC

Belle Bar is Empowering Women of Color with All Natural, Handmade Skin and Haircare Products from New York

Belle Bar is a women owned and run beauty company led by Tianna Bell along with her sister Solange and mother Annette. They make organic, customizable skin and haircare for women of color using all natural ingredients to create products that are handmade to order. Their products feature ingredients you’ve actually heard of and help with hair damage, hair growth, and even clear skin. We chatted with Tianna Bell about how they got started, how New York plays into their business, and their all natural process.

Downtown: What was the impetus for this brand? 

Tiana Bell: Our mission every day is to make green beauty accessible for women of color. We do that with the content we make, the products we create, and how we communicate with our customers. Our goal is to educate women of color on how to take care of themselves and how to reconnect with nature, which in turn will help them reconnect with themselves. We believe green beauty and wellness is a conduit for self-confidence.

Downtown: How did you all decide to go into business as a family?

TB: All we ever had was each other. It was natural for us to work together, as we already have each other’s trust and confidence. It was grace that we all happened to be good at different areas of the business, which made us a great founding team.

Downtown: What is different about a company catering to the WOC community?

TB: Most companies that create products for WOC communities are made up of teams not consisting of women of color. Truly catering to the WOC community means creating products that “do no harm,” it means using images and language that empowers, it means celebrating us. Not only is it important for our society to cater to marginalized communities, it is also good business as these communities, especially women of color, have strong purchasing power.

Downtown: How do you decide what goes into your products?

TB: Annette Bell, head of product development is in charge of deciding which all-natural ingredients go into our products. She is a self-taught herbalist and is obsessed with studying the benefits of flowers, herbs, fruits, plants, and vegetables. She typically goes through many rounds of testing before she settles on her final recipes.

Downtown: What even is a hair mask?!?

TB: A hair mask is essentially a deep conditioning treatment. What makes our hair masks different is that the treatment is made from dehydrated ingredients. Our masks need to be activated by a fresh ingredient such as a conditioner you already love or a complete all natural ingredient such as blended pumpkin, banana, or avocado. This allows our hair masks to truly be effective as they are customized for each customer.

Downtown: What’s it like working in New York?

TB: While my sister and I are first-generation Americans, my mother and rest of the family are from Trinidad & Tobago. New York is all about grit, hustle, competition, and dreaming. To make it here you have to have the drive to fight your way to the top. We were raised with that drive. Now we are using it to help others with our mission.

Downtown: What are a few of the ingredients your most excited about?

TB: Some of our favorite ingredients are: Neem (an herb that smells like a foot but is one of the most healing ingredients you will come across), Marshmallow Root (creates that ultimate “slip” all curly girls need to detangle and soften their hair), Chebe Powder, which we source straight from Africa (Chebe powder is traditionally made by different African tribes, primarily in Sudan and Chad, where women apply the powder to their hair with oil and never wash it out).

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Uncategorized

5 Beauty Subscription Boxes For Her

Beauty subscriptions allow you to try new beauty products and test what you like and what you don’t, because finding the right products can be tough. It takes patience because it is trial and error; however, there are the perfect products out there for everyone.

You might be one who loves trying new products and is beauty-obsessed, or you may be someone who struggles with finding beauty products and doesn’t have the time to research the best ones to try. Either way, beauty subscriptions are the way to go. I mean, who doesn’t love getting packages anyway?

There are many different kinds of beauty subscriptions, which is why we at Downtown Magazine put together a list of beauty subscriptions we love.

So treat yourself, or treat your girl, to one of the following beauty subscriptions that we picked.

Birchbox

Photo courtesy of Birchbox

The Monthly Box
Price: $10/monthly (you can cancel anytime) or $110/yearly

Each month, your personalized beauty box includes five product samples. They choose the best beauty products tailored to your skin, hair, and style. You’ll get to try all different types of products, from haircare to skincare to makeup, and they always include information on how to use them.

Ipsy

Photo courtesy of hello subscription

Monthly Glam Bag
Price: $1o/monthly

Michelle Phan, famous for her inspiration through her beauty video tutorials, began the company Ipsy where each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag that includes deluxe samples as well as full-sized beauty products.

Michelle and her team of stylists personally select the products they love for you to try and hopefully fall in love with as well. Take the beauty quiz, get your first Glam Bag, watch the videos, and find the perfect products for you!

Julep


Photo courtesy of Julep

Julep Maven Box

Price: My Maven ($40+ worth of polish & product) $24.99/month or $19.99/month with a three-month prepaid subscription OR Maven Luxe ($60+ worth of prestige products) $39.99/month or $34.99/month with a three-month pre-paid subscription.

Julep believes that everyday looks and trying new trends should be easy, effortless, and inspiring— “because pretty shouldn’t be something we define for you. It’s whatever you choose to show us.” It includes a customizable full-size beauty and polish from brand-new collections every month, from which you can choose from. Both subscriptions include the option to “send to a friend,” skip the month or cancel at any time.

LOVE GOODLY

Photo courtesy of LOVE GOODLY

Bi-Monthly Box Subscription
Price: $29.95/bi-monthly

Every other month, LOVE GOODLY will send you $80+ value of 4-5 products. What’s unique about LOVE GOODLY is that they are all healthy, natural products, encouraging you to live a cruelty-free and toxin free lifestyle. They are all exo-friendly, non-toxic, vegan, and curated with love.

Each box contains 4-5 mostly full-size products, including beauty and skincare, a style or home accessory, and healthy snacks and wellness items. And to top it all off, with each purchase, they give back to a cause.

GLOSSYBOX

Photo courtesy of GLOSSYBOX

GLOSSYBOX
Price: $21/month for 1 month, $19.50/month for 3 months, $18.50/month for 6 months, or $17.50/month for 12 months.

With a GLOSSYBOX subscription, each month you receive 5 deluxe full-size beauty products that have been handpicked from around the globe all within a beautiful keepsake box! In the snap of a finger, you’ll come home to a GLOSSYBOX at your doorstep and hopefully some of your new favorite products.

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Uncategorized

Downtown’s Summer Hair Products Guide

Summer is full of endless activities outside, inside, in the water, you name it — and taming that hair of yours is becoming a full-time job. We all deal with tangles and frizz and all kinds of hair problems with every product claiming to be the one who can fix it.

We’ve already narrowed down the best shampoos and conditioners for your specific hair type, but now we at Downtown Magazine have dug even deeper to find all and any products to tame that summer hair and restore it in all ways.

Whether you’re dealing with tangled hair from the chlorine, frizziness from the humidity, or overall damaged hair and what not, here are our top hair products.

Frizz

Photo courtesy of its a 10 Hair Care

Price: $17.48, available here

Done with dealing with frizz? its a 10‘s miracle defrizzing gel is the perfect buy. Stop the battle by purchasing this secret weapon, made with natural ingredients and ends with manageable hair.

Rough

Photo courtesy of Moroccanoil

 

Price: $32.00, available here

In an effortless manner,Moroccanoil‘s Smoothing Lotion tames hair, resists humidity, and smooths the hair all-in-one. This product will leave your hair soft and luxuriously smooth, and we can’t get enough of it!

Oily Scalp

Photo courtesy of Kérastase

 

Price: $65.00, available here

This scalp treatment soothes and hydrates the scalp, for all hair types. It particularly treats sensitive scalps while leaving the scalp refreshed and supple. Kérastase‘s Masque Hydra-Apaisant is just the treatment for your scalp.

Curl Maker

Photo courtesy of Devacurl

 

Price: $22.00, available here

Devacurl‘s The Curl Maker is a curl booster spray gel perfect for you, if you want to unleash your natural curly and wavy texture. This styler brings outstanding results, ending with gorgeous curls and a happy girl.

Styling

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal 

Price: $4.99, available here

Not only is the smell amazing, but this Air Dry It Un-Done Style Cream from L’Oréal Paris is effortless and brings out the best hair results. It is frizz-resistant and requires no heat. It is made for all hair types and it enhances your hair’s natural shape definition and texture, all at once.

Tangly

Photo courtesy of Wet Brush

Price: $8.99, available here

This brush is perfect for all hair types. The Wet Brush helps is made specifically for wet hair and brings out your best hair. It combs out tangles effortlessly and in a time-efficient manner. Not to mention, the Galaxy-Voyager is almost too pretty!

Finish

Photo courtesy of its a 10 Hair Care

 

Price: $19.55, available here

We are big fans of its a 1o, and their Miracle Finishing Hair Spray Plus Keratin is a must-have. It is perfect product to hold your style all done by a dry spray. It is perfect for finished styling, shine, volume and keratin for a super firm, along with weightless, hold.

Texturized

Photo courtesy of Kenra Professional

Price: $22.00, available here

Kenra Professional‘s Texturizing Mist 6 is a fine mist providing a natural, touchable hold. It defines texture and boosts fullness, protects from humidity for up to 24 hours, as well as is flake-free and non-drying formulation.

Damaged

Photo courtesy of Flawless

 

Price: $29.00, available here

This Hair Repair Masque brings out soften, smooth and shine, ending with your hair left strengthened, hydrated and repaired. Made with Argan Oil, Marula Oil, Avocado Oil, and Pea protein this mask from Flawless by Gabrielle Union will fix that damaged hair of yours right up.

Volume

Photo courtesy of Paul Mitchell

 

Price: $10.50, available here

We love John Paul Mitchell Systems‘ products, but especially their Extra Body Sculpting Gel for those who seek volume. It provides a flexible hold while building body and adding lift to fine, limp hair. This product brings out the beautiful hair you never thought you had.

Heat Protection

Photo courtesy of CHI

 

Price: $16.50, available here

CHI‘s Total Protect is a lightweight lotion made with a rich silk formula to help lock in moisture and protect hair from thermal style and color fading. It truly brings out the hair’s natural structure to build strength and resilience and to improve moisture and shine.

Dry Shampoo

Photo courtesy of Not Your Mother’s

Price: $7.00, available here.

Summer involves a full schedule, and Not Your Mother’s dry shampoo is the perfect hair necessity that brings instant results and absorbs excess oils, fresh volume, and leaves no residue. It’s simple.

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Uncategorized

10 Products For Your Summer Beauty Bag

As temperatures creep towards the high 80s — and your make-up continues to melt off — invest in high-quality beauty products that will not only provide a fresh summer glow, but protect your skin and hair as well.

The beauty product jungle can be a challenge; should you go for a cleanser and a cream? Should you try a new choice or stick to trusted brands, guaranteed to give you good results?

We’ve done some digging and these are Downtown’s top 10 products that any beauty fanatic would be proud to have in her make-up bag.

Glossier Invisible Shield SPF 35

SPF is not an option but a necessity. Just to make sure you’re listening, we repeat, SPF is not an option. The clever people at Glossier agree and present the Invisible Shield SPF 35. The clear watergel formula will quickly absorb into your skin and is also designed to keep it clear of the city’s polluted air. It’s a win-win.


Photo courtesy of Glossier

Price: $34.00

MŪN Argan Pure Argan Oil

This is your 3-in-1; the Argan Pure Argan Oil is a softening treatment that you can use on your skin, nail cuticles and hair. Filled with vitamin E, antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids, the oil will give a much-needed boost during dry summer months. When using the the product in your hair, apply a small amount to the ends only, to avoid a ‘greasy scalp’ look.

Photo courtesy of MŪN

Price: $70.00

Savannah Bee Charcoal, Propolis and Volcanic Ash Cleanser

Activated charcoal has proven incredibly effective in removing toxins — it draws them out, which is exactly what you want in a humid city like NYC. Meanwhile, the added benefit of propolis and volcanic ash in this cleanser will gently exfoliate and hydrate and is perfect for keeping your skin clean this summer.

Photo courtesy of Savannah Bee

Price: $12.99

Urban Decay Travel Size Perversion Mascara

Perfect for mini-holidays, when you just want to bring your travel sized vanity bag. According to Urban Decay, the lash volumizing product is “so intense you might need a safe word, Perversion glides on and gets you sexy in one stroke.” Talk about making a lady blush…

Photo courtesy of  Urban Decay

Price: $10.00

SHOW Beauty Repair Treatment Mask

Pump up your locks with some quinoa protein. The Repair Treatment Mask, which also contains hydrolyzed pea, pro vitamin B5, caviar and white truffles(!), is the stuff of hair-related dreams. This luxurious treatment nourishes, strengthens and conditions dull strands and leave your hair soft and full of life.

Photo courtesy of  SHOW Beauty

Prices range depending on retailer.

Smith & Cult Illumify Starlings Highlighter

This is the second venture by the founders of Hard Candy make-up, Dineh Mohajer and Jeanne Chavez. The dynamic duo are beauty veterans with an eye for creating cosmetics that others envy; beauty with a dash of punk attitude and a dazzle of hipster. The Starlings Highlighter in Gilded Nude will become your new secret weapon.

Price:  $36.00

Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation

The base to your daily beauty routine — foundation! The Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation comes in 20 different shades and has a smooth, light consistency. Containing micro-fine radiant pearl Mica to even out your skin tone, this foundation sits, fits and looks just right For best results, apply with a make-up sponge or softly dab on with your fingertips.


Photo courtesy of Laura Mercier

Price: $48.00

Marc Jacobs Velvet Reality Set

Why buy one, when you can get three? The limited edition set was inspired by Marc Jacobs’ catwalk creations and includes a pop eye stick shadow in a shimmering icy grape shade, a waterproof gel eye crayon in cool blue and the velvet noir major volume mascara. If that’s not enough to win you over, the quirky make-up bag designed by British illustrator, Julie Verhoeven, will.

Photo courtesy of Marc Jacobs Beauty

Price: $49.00

Vita Liberata Ten Minute Tan

Stuck in the office all summer with no chance for a tan? And skin too fair to turn anything but a shade of pink when you finally have a moment to pop out? Self-tanning might be your knight in shining armor. This one from Vita Liberata is fast-acting and odor with vitamin C and Rosehip oil. But remember, always use a tanning mitt when applying to your skin for an even application.

Photo courtesy of Vita Liberata

Price: $39.00

Patchology Lip Renewal FlashPatch® 5 Minute Hydrogels

The trademarked lip treatment with its HydraSurge5™ Moisture System is a wonder for your lips. The product will plump, moisturize and perfect your pout, and we love this treatment. It’s easy to use, works fast and is well worth its price point.


Photo courtesy of Patchology

Price: $50.00

Categories
Fashion

Glow with SHOW Beauty

If you haven’t heard about SHOW Beauty yet, you are in for a treat. The luxe hair care brand has been on the market for a few years, but it never ceases to amaze and has become a stable in Downtown’s hair care cabinet. Its products come in an indulgent and luxurious range that embodies timeless elegance and sophistication.

Everything from design to the products are spotless. Their shampoo and conditioners cater to the three most common needs: volume, repair and moisture — and the repair and moisture lines also offer hair treatment masks. Just 20 minutes and your locks will soon be looking their best.

The brand is more than just shampoo and conditioner however. It also holds tried and true favorites like dry shampoo, thermal protect mist and a thickening lotion, to name a few. You can see the full range and read more about each on their website.

On there, you’ll also find a wide array of tips, tricks and how-to videos for perfect guides to help you and your locks look their best.

Their latest tour de force however is not for hair… Just recently SHOW Beauty launched the Allure Body Shimmer Oil — a radiant lightweight dry body oil which softens skin while giving a beautifully luminous golden glow. Perfect for summer!

The perks of this shimmer oil is that it is paragon free, formulated with a blend of Vitamin E, Aloe Vera, Argan and Jojoba oils, which soothes and deeply hydrates the skin with just a few drops.

You will end up looking healthy, moisturized, and fabulous! On top of it, the warming hint of shimmering color enhances your natural tan and the signature SHOW Beauty fragrance kindles an air of glamour, mystique with sensual Patchouli, soft White Musk, and Madagascan Vanilla.

The Body Shimmer Oil is suitable for all skin types and is available at net-a-porter.com.

 

Are you going to #GlowWithSHOW?