Happy Bastille Day!

… or simply “14 juillet” as the French say! Just to brush up on everyone’s French history, the 14^th of July commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789, which marks the French peoples’ very first victory against this symbol of the oppressive “Ancien Regime”, and the beginning of the French Revolution. The first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille wasn’t actually celebrated until 2 years later, on the 14^th of July 1790, and this day did not become an official French National holiday until 1880! France has now celebrated this triumphant and patriotic day every year for over a century with military parades and ceremonies, fireworks, balls – and of course, La Marseillaise!

Now just because the French get today off from work to celebrate and be merry does not mean that we here in the States can’t celebrate La France as well! Set the atmosphere “a la Francaise”: listen to La Marseillaise (go ahead, just look it up on YouTube!) or some classic French tunes- Edith Piaf, anyone? Go grab a baguette and some cheese, or go somewhere French like Le Pain Quotidien (well, they’re Belgian… but it’s close enough for our purposes, right?!). And tonight - le 14 juillet is a great excuse to have a little get-together, pop open some champagne, or just enjoy some French cheese, paté, and wine!

Vive la France!

Vive La France! Bloggers Celebrate Bastille Day At Phyto Universe

Last night beauty bloggers gathered at Phyto Universe in NYC to celebrate Bastille Day (a few days early!) with PHYTO hair care, LIERAC Paris skincare, and Caron fragrances. Guests were invited to learn about products from all brands, including some of our more recent launches. Experts were on hand to offer up their knowledge and everyone had a chance to mingle with fellow bloggers while munching on some delicious French delicacies (complete with cheese and paté, bien sur!). Live band, "The Hot Club of Hell's Kitchen," played French tunes in the background.

The night also included a mini French lesson, courtesy of Laurel Holland and the Alliance Francaise, in which bloggers learned beauty-related words and phrases associated with skin and hair, as well as hair care and skincare tips from celebrity stylist and salon owner, Julien Farel, and LIERAC's Director of Education, Catherine Raubiet.

Catherine provided great tips while highlighting some of the differences between the ways Americans and the French view skincare:

• Start early with skincare - Get regular facials as early as the teenage years. Americans view getting facials as a luxury, while the French see it as necessary for proper grooming.
  
  
• Use minimal makeup - keep makeup light! Cosmetics are intended to enahance beauty, not act as something to hide behind.
  
  
• Keep it gentle - Though Americans embrace more aggressive procedures (such as microdermabrasion, lasers, and peels), the French prefer more holistic approaches to skincare, with more of a reliance on botanics.
  
  
• Skincare regimen - It's important to maintain a proper skincare regimen including cleansing, moisturizing, and toning, in the morning AND at night. Also, exfoliate and use a mask at least once a week.
  
  
• Body care - Americans tend to forget about taking care of the skin on their bodies (just focus on moisturizing the face), but keeping the body hydrated is just as important!
  
  
• Minimal cosmetic surgery - Plastic surgery is much more common in the US than in France. The French prefer the use of non-invasive topical treatments.
  
  
• Approx. 30% of skin ages due to genetics....70% is in your control!

  
  
  Everyone had a great time at 'le soirée' (we ended up with more attendees than expected...the more the merrier!). A fabulous night indeed!

  
  
  Photos!

  
  
  

  
  
  

  The experts! Julien Farel and Catherine Raubiet

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  The band

  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  Caron's Diane Haska and Lauren of Everyday to Runway
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  A big MERCI to all who came out to Phyto Universe!

Conquering Cellulite: LIERAC Paris Celebrates Over 30 Years Of Research And Development

Cellulite may be an inevitable woe for many of us, but did you know that LIERAC Paris has spent more than 30 years studying the causes and methods of its treatment? That's right folks, we mean business!

Here are some highlights to better acquaint you with LIERAC's involvement:

1982: Phytophyline is introduced as the 1st intensive treatment for cellulite, based on our famous synergy of Alchemilla, Ivy, and Horsetail.


1995: Body Lift range begins with 1st "anti-orange peel skin" product, boasting 7% Active Caffeine.


2000: Body Lift 10 is introduced with a record-breaking 10% concentration of Active Caffeine.


2004: Ultra Body Lift 10 breaks onto the scene combining 10% Active Caffeine with aspartame.


2009: Morpho-Slim is born. The formula combines 7.5% LIPO-REVERSE® technology with 1% brown algae extract and 4% oat polysaccharides. The LIPO-REVERSE® complex is composed of both Active Caffeine and Glaucine and directly targets cellulite, firming the problem areas. Brown algae helps in the process of lipolysis, the breakdown of fat cells (which we don't want!). Additionally, oat polysaccharides have an immediate tightening effect on the skin. This product is intended for mature cellulite.


2010: Introduction of Morpho-Slim Stomach & Waist to specifically target cellulite in these regions.

And we're not through! Have you tried any anti-cellulite products before?

Heatwave Shaves With LIERAC Homme And SPIFF

Yesterday, to ring in the launch of the LIERAC Homme line, the brand held an event at the Duane Reade Look Boutique location at 51st Street (between 5th and 6th Ave.) in NYC. The event was designed to introduce the new products (which include a shave gel, an anti-puffiness eye cream, and a wrinkle repair cream). The launch was a great success! DJ Super Jaimie spun all afternoon long (the event lasted from noon-7 PM) and our sponsors, SPIFF NYC and Muscle Milk, provided straight razor shaves and shoe shines and refreshments respectively. We couldn't have done it without them! Despite the heatwave in NYC, the turnout was great!

All of the brand's representatives wore T-shirts in the LIERAC Homme signature brown color with the slogan "High Performance Skincare For Men" on the back.

Postcards were handed out on the street which entitled the first 250 recipients to pick up a FREE mini-sized shave gel.

A customer gets a shave

Shoe shine!

Thanks to everyone who participated and made this event a success! Special thanks to New York Magazine for listing the launch in their "Events and Sales" section, http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/07/tomorrows_events_and_sales_up_4.html

Stay tuned for future happenings!

The Best DIY Beauty Booster: Self-Confidence!

Have you ever looked in the mirror after a killer work out and felt incredibly sexy despite the sweat pearling down your face? How about the feeling you get after receiving an unexpected compliment on your new hair cut? It feels amazing.
Makeup and skincare can surely pull their weight at making us feel and look great, yet confidence can be one of the best beauty accessories. Here are some non-makeup ways to get your inner-glow on:

• Shoulders Back, Chin Up! Good posture is the key to elegance, grace and strength, not to mention it will make you look slimmer in seconds. Roll back your shoulders, suck in that tummy and look dead-ahead - you'll feel and see an immediate difference.

• Break a Sweat. Exercise is proven to boost confidence, reduce stress and help maintain weight. Now why did you skip last night's Zumba class again?

• Play with Color. According to a study at the Nottingham Trent University in England, "after coloring their hair, women were much more likely to ask for a raise, challenge their boss, or put their foot down when confronted by a coworker."

• Don't Overanalyze Every.Little.Thing. Women are known to read into every emotion, every decision, every word. Take charge of a situation and be determined, don't mull over every consequence - you will feel empowered and capable.

How do you up your confidence? Do you have a winning outfit that never lets you down? Do you have a personal confidence mantra? Let us know!

3 Steps To A More Radiant Complexion With Microabrasion

The key to healthy, beautiful skin lies within exfoliation. It is vital to strip the skin of dead cells in order to reveal a more youthful complexion. In order to help clarify the way to go about beautifying the skin, Lilia Tourmaine, the in-house aesthetician at Phyto Universe, has offered up a 3-step treatment plan. She recommends following these steps twice a week to help rejuvenate the skin.

STEP 1: EXFOLIATE

After wetting the face and neck with water, use circular movements to apply LIERAC Paris Microabrasion to the area. This helps to remove dead skin cells and improve the skin's texture and radiance. It also sets the skin up to better absorb further product.

STEP 2: REJUVENATE



Rinse the skin completely and pat dry. Follow with LIERAC Paris Concentré Mésolift Radiance Serum which adds essential vitamins and minerals to rejuvinate dull or tired complexions.


STEP 3: HYDRATE



According to the particular skin conern, apply a moisturizer to the exfoliated areas. This serves to hydrate and reintroduce important nutrients.


It's sometimes easy to forget about our skin's need for exfoliation, but hopefully these steps were a bit helpful. How often do you generally exfoliate?

LIERAC Paris: A Leader In Anti-Cellulite Research

Cellulite isn't the most glamorous issue to deal with, but fortunately no one has to suffer alone. A gender-specific condition affecting 90% of women, cellulite results from fat storage occuring in the hypodermis (the deepest skin layer), along with water retention and aging of the connective tissue. When there is an imbalance between the processes of fat storage and release, and fat cells increase in volume. As a result, collagen fibers form rigid capsules over the fat cells, causing skin to adopt the characteristic dimpled look - not so pretty!


Lucky for us girls, LIERAC has long studied how cellulite comes to be, as well as how to treat the condition. In 2004, the brand released Ultra-Body Lift 10, a concentrate that directly targets cellulite and water retention. LIERAC introduced Active Caffeine (a 10% concentration) into the product's formula. The caffeine works along with phospholipids to reduce the accumulation of fat. In addition, Ultra-Body Lift 10 contains licorice, an ingredient rich in flavonoids that has anti-water retention and anti-toxin properties. Together these ingredients magically work to recontour the appearance of the skin, reducing unsighlty dimples and aiding drainage for a more comfortable feel.