December Beauty Buzz
Taupe nails, advances in lipo and a new antioxidant to get excited about.
December 2008
Serve and Protect
The next big skincare ingredient? Astaxanthin. The powerful antioxidant,
derived from a microalgae, has been used for everything from aiding
muscle recovery to treating autoimmune diseases, so it was only a matter
of time before it hit the beauty industry. Claimed to be up to 1,000
times more effective at fighting free radicals than vitamin E, it’s now
in a vitamin supplement called Astavita Skin Defense Complex, a pill
designed to improve skin from the inside out (astavita.com). And 3 Lab
included it in its new Perfect “Glow” Complex serum: The company found that aside from Astaxanthin’s antioxidant properties, it also enhances
skin elasticity and helps reduce melanin deposits, which can lead to age
spots. $95; at Barneys New York.
December 2008
Oil Fill
When New York fashion stylist Linda Rodin began blending 11 essential
oils in her kitchen, her dreams didn’t extend beyond finding an
effective moisturizer for her dry skin. Two years later Rodin Olio Lusso
has become an underground favorite of beauty junkies, selling at such
chic boutiques as John Derian in New York. In December she follows up
with a body oil for skin from the neck down. Potions three and four are
already in the works, but other than describing them as “something for
the home and something else for the body,” Rodin remains mum. $80;
oliolusso.com.
December 2008
Work Boots
Because cellulite never hibernates, the FitFlop, the
alleged fat-fighting cult-hit thong, has been winterized for nonbikini
climates. There are two styles, but we love the Ugg-like Billow, whose
shearling lining keeps ankles and feet warm so upper legs and glutes can
work out even on snow days. $125; blissworld.com.
December 2008
On Taupe
The word “taupe” has a dowdy feel to it, right up there with
“mauve,” and taupe-painted nails bring gaudy grandmothers to mind. But
we recently discovered a few taupes done in a way that feels fresh and
hip. Nonie Creme, creative director of nail polish company Butter London
(butterlondon.com), whipped up Sheer Mink, a gorgeous pale
milk-chocolate shade, for the Vena Cava spring 2009 show. “I took the
orange out, but I also found that adding a few drops of green gave it a
bit of patina,” she says. Creme plans on debuting Sheer Mink next year.
Until then Priti Organic’s St. Catherine’s Lace (pritiorganicspa.com)
and Lippmann Collection’s Fashion (lippmanncollection.com) are excellent
orangeless taupes to try.
December 2008
Laser Lipo
The art of liposuction has undergone many technological
advancements in an effort to make the removal of fat easier and less
painful. The latest comes from Palomar Medical Technologies and is
called SlimLipo. A fiber-optic laser is inserted into the targeted area,
where, at 924 nanometers, the fat is melted and removed through a
flexible plastic cannula (which is less invasive than the standard metal
tube). The laser then goes in again at a higher wavelength (975
nanometers) to tighten the skin around the area. “With other
wavelengths, the fat comes out clumpy, but at 924 it’s total liquid,”
says New York plastic surgeon Kenneth Rothaus, who’s been using SlimLipo
since June (it won FDA clearance in April) and has conducted a
yet-unpublished study on the machine for the company. “If it can cut
procedure time down and show significant skin contraction, that would be
very attractive,” says New York plastic surgeon Haideh Hirmand. “It
sounds like very promising technology, but no studies have been
published on it yet, so I’m waiting to see that first.”
December 2008
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