Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Every year in the United States, March is designated as Women's History Month to help promote equality and bring attention to the contributions women have made to our society. The tradition began in 1911 as International Women's Day, a full 9 years before the Nineteenth Amendment, and women's suffrage, was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt. In 1979, the school district of Sonoma, California, took it upon themselves to extend the day of recognition into a full week. The move became so wildly popular that in 1981, Congress passed a resolution that officially expanded the focus to a week. This was followed by another resolution in 1987 which expanded the focus to a month.

Thank you to some great women in history:

Susan B. Anthony - A tireless campaigner for gender equality, Anthony (and friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton) inspired a nationwide suffrage movement.

Harriet Tubman - A “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, she led more than 300 slaves to freedom. Also served Union forces in coastal South Carolina.

Elizabeth Blackwell - The first woman physician in the U.S. (MD, Geneva College, 1849). She opened a slum infirmary and trained women in medicine.

Winifred Edgerton Merrill - First U.S. woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics (Columbia, 1886; highest honors). Founded the Oaksmere School for Girls in 1906.

Helen Keller - Deafened and blinded by a childhood disease, she overcame her disabilities, then worked for the blind and numerous progressive causes.

Georgia O'Keeffe - Widely regarded as one of the great modernist painters of the 20th century, O'Keeffe was a major figure in American art for more than 70 years.

Ayn Rand - Russian-born, Rand wrote fiction, notably The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged. She espoused a philosophy of rational self-interest.

Rosa Parks - Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, on December 1, 1955, sparked the modern civil rights movement.

Marilyn Monroe - Completing 30 motion pictures, Monroe became an American icon and worldwide sensation before her mysterious death.

Maya Angelou - A poet, historian, author, civil rights activist, producer and director, she composed and read verse at the Clinton inauguration in 1993.

Coretta Scott King - Known as the First Lady of civil rights, Coretta carried on the dreams of her husband, Martin Luther King Jr.

Sandra Day O'Connor - She became the first woman justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. She felt the court's role was to interpret the law, not legislate it.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Finally, it's Spring!

Last Saturday marked the Vernal Equinox, or the first day of Spring for 2010. At least, that's for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. For those of you who a bit more South, the day was known as the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of fall. It is significant because it is one of only two days out of the year where the Sun passes directly over the Earth's equator, causing the length of our day and night to be precisely the same.

From now until the Summer Solstice on June 21st, the axis of the Earth will continue to tilt towards the Sun, until finally the Sun is positions at its highest point North. Until then, we can enjoy the rapidly increasing length of daylight that we all know and love. : )

All over the world, Spring is seen as a time of renewal; animal and plant life both begin anew. Spring is also the perfect time to renew and rejuvenate your skin! Especially with Summer rapidly approaching, it's very important to make sure your skin is in its best shape!

One of my favorite products to use to ready my skin for time in the Sun is Gentle Body Exfoliator:



It's highly active Papaya Enzyme remove dead and damaged cells, leaving only the healthy, radiant skin below. Aloe Extract soothes, softens, and counteracts wrinkles, while Chamomile Extract boost the skin's defenses and oxygen uptake. Finally, we include Coconut Extracts as a cleanser! Don't all of those ingredient sound wonderful?!

Once my skin is looking and feeling great, then naturally I have to take steps to keep it that way! I use Total Face and Body Protection SPF 30:



It offers SPF Protection so my skin doesn't get damaged by too much time in the Sun! Also, Shea Butter intensely moisturizes while relaxing skin that has been overexposed to sunlight already. Working in concert with the Shea Butter is Vitamin E, which heals and nourishes skin. I absolutely love it!

Enjoy your Spring! :)

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Problem with Dark Spots?

If you have an uneven skin tone, you're definitely not alone. Discoloration is one of the most common skin care issues we receive inquiries about, but it's also one of the easiest to solve. There are many methods for prevention and treatment, but first let's start with a background on what causes dark spots... because you all know how much I love being thorough. : )

Discoloration usually comes as a result of one of two conditions: hyperpigmentation or melasma. Hyperpigmentation (think: age spots) usually presents discoloration after overexposure to sunlight and its UV rays, when skin cells known as melanocytes begin producing melanin. This is the pigment that causes discoloration, and is initially intended to protect the skin from overexposure. Too much time spent in the Sun, however, can cause lasting damage.

Melasma, on the other hand, tends to be chiefly a concern amongst women. It is a disorder caused by hormonal changes such as those experienced when a women goes through a pregnancy, or takes birth control pills. Said changes can trigger an overproduction of melanin, and the situation can be severely exacerbated if a woman subjects herself to long hours in the Sun for the reasons enumerated above.

Treating your skin with the proper products, however, can minimize or even prevent discoloration. C-Peel is designed to enhance the effects of our other two Vitamin C products by delivering additional nutrients, but by also acting as an exfoliator. This two step product polishes the complexion for immediate radiance, while it smoothes with instantly visible effects. It also refines dull skin complexions and encourages collagen production!




Also, our C-Bright Essence contains Vitamin C and Japanese Knotweed which work in synergy to ensure age spots diminish and that a lighter, smoother complexion is developed. Additionally, the Vitamin C is delivered through a micro-encapsulation system, allowing for a slow release to help combat free radical damage and stimulate collagen synthesis.



Our C10, which is designed to be used while you sleep, delivers the maximum amount of Vitamin C as possible without risking that it might become unstable and, thus, ineffective. As a result, it provides the most protection against Sun spots and fights discoloration as much as is possible! Additionally, Forti-pHirm complex tightens, tones and stabilizes skin, ensuring that you look your best.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Everyone's Irish on March 17th!

I don't know about you, but I love St. Patrick's day. Being partially of Irish descent, it would nigh be a crime to not! And, from what I can tell, I'm not the only one who enjoys the festivities. Here in New York City, we celebrate the day with the largest St. Patrick's day parade in the entire world, with over 2 million participants and spectators. All this makes for a good time, but I think it's about time we take a look at the origins of the holiday (I know, I'm a history nerd).

St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat during the 4th century AD in Britain. His family was wealthy, and he lived a privileged life until the age of sixteen, when he and his family were attacked by Irish raiders. The young man was captured and forced into servitude in County Mayo, Ireland. During the course of his slavery, Succat believed he was visited by God, who instructed him to escape from his captors and return to Britain, which he did the very next day. Once there, he trained to become a priest for 15 years so as to convert the Irish to Christianity from Paganism. Along the way, he chose Patrick as his Christian Saint name. He spent the rest of his life teaching Christianity and creating schools for the benefit of Irish children. He passed away on March 17th 461 AD, and shortly afterward the Irish people decided to hold a day of remembrance on the day of his passing.

Interesting facts: The original color representative of St. Patrick's day was blue, not green. Green caught on over a period of time after people began wearing shamrocks on their clothing as a symbol of St. Patrick's teachings. Interestingly enough, he used them as an aid to teach Irishmen about the Holy Trinity.

As with many holidays, St. Patrick's day began as a religious holiday, but gained popularity and is now celebrated in secular circles as well. As a result, the day has picked up some interesting holiday traditions. For example, the Chicago River in Chicago, Illinois, is dyed green every year to celebrate the city's rich Irish heritage. Look! -



Additionally, the fountain outside of the White House is sometimes dyed green in a nod to St. Patrick and the overall contribution of Irish immigrants to American society.

Look! -



However you decide to spend the day, enjoy, and make sure you cleanse your skin after you take off all that green face paint!

Friday, March 5, 2010

And the Oscar goes to..!

Hey there all you wonderful people!

As you probably well know, the Oscars are coming up this weekend. We did some digging about our favorite former Laszlo Devotee, Marilyn Monroe, and found out that, despite the fact that she's an undeniable Hollywood film icon as recognizable today as any celebrity out there, she was never an Oscar recipient! As a matter of fact, the fact that she wasn't even nominated for one after 1959's Some Like It Hot is considered the #9 Oscar snub of all time! Regardless, she still embodies the silver era of Hollywood, and we all love her!



As for the 2010 Oscars, being held March 7th at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, some of the nominations are as follows:

Best Picture: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air

Actor in a Leading Role: Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner

Actress in a Leading Role: Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, Meryl Streep

Directing: Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Up in the Air, Precious

This year, current buzz place the odds disproportionately in favor of Mo’Nique (Precious), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) and Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), but only time will tell. I can certainly agree with the Christopher Waltz prediction, as he hasn't lost a single award for his role since Inglorious Basterds premiered. He'd better have a good acceptance speech; he's had months to write it, after all! I can't comment on the others, however, as that is unfortunately the extent of my insight.

There seems to be a bit of tension, however, in the Best Actress category between Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep. Streep is in the running (surprise) for this reason: she is widely regarded as an actress in a league of her own, yet has only won two awards. The last award she actually did win came in 1982 for her performance in Sophie's Choice, which means she's been snubbed for the last 28 years. On the flip side, Bullock certainly deserves an award due to both her abilities and prolonged star-power, but she isn't in the running nearly as often as Streep. The Academy may likely decide to acknowledge her while they have the chance.

Naturally, the night could end up being huge for James Cameron and Avatar, Cameron's first film since Titanic (which, fyi, took eleven statuettes), as the film is up for nine awards. I'd like to say good luck to all the nominees!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

CEW Awards

Yesterday, Erno Laszlo participated in the most widely regarded product demonstration show around - the CEW Awards! Held at the Metropolitan Pavilion here in New York City, it boasted appearances by literally everyone you can imagine when thinking of beauty and skin care. Just as a point of reference, there were 550 entries in the show last year alone! We featured our newest moisturizing product - Laszlo Blue Firmaine SPF 30, and we think it got a great reception! Perhaps we'll receive a nod of some sort this year?

Here's a look at our table (with our demonstrator Julia in the background!)


See those flowers? The vase in which they're being held is filled with water containing the much-discussed active ingredient in the Firmarine Line - Spirulina Maxima! We were hoping that the flowers might turn blue, but no such luck. Regardless, they were aesthetically pleasing, I'd say!

Anyway, the awards are handed out in a variety of categories, from Skin Care to Men's Grooming to Hair. For our part, we entered ourselves in the "Prestige Moisturizer" category. If anyone happens to be a CEW member, voting is open until March 8th, and we would love your support (here's the link just in case- https://www.cew.org)! Last year, that award went to Estee Lauder, but we're all confident that we can pull it out this year! Unfortunately, we won't know either way until the winners are announced at the annual Beauty Awards Luncheon on May 21st at the Waldorf-Astoria.