EDITOR’S PICKS: Health & Beauty spring 2008: Prescriptives Custom Blend Lip Gloss + Menscience Thermogenic Formula supplements + XEN TAN

Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Image of supplements, courtesy of MenScience image of Xen-tan, from www.XEN-TAN.com

Thermogenic Formula supplements + Prescriptives Custom Blend Lip Gloss + XEN-TAN's "Transform are 3 easy to use items that will have you looking your best this spring.

MENSCIENCE THERMOGENIC FORMULA
We’ve waited a long time for the new spring clothes to hit the sales floor. The time is finally here when we’ll be putting on those floral patterned day dresses on. In preparation, we started taking MENSCIENCE THERMOGENIC FORMULA, in February, during NY Fashion Week. The Thermogenic supplement is not just for those who want to shed a few pounds; it significantly increased our energy during the fast –paced fashion week. Normally, we’d return to the apartment, spent after a day of walking 4+ miles getting to shows. This time, we had the energy to: watch hours of Full Frontal Fashion TV, select images, work on our online classes, and even get some writing done. Amazing! We even cut back on our 4-cup a day Java habit [down to 2 1/2]. Although Bawls Energy drinks were available in coolers at the tents, we didn’t have even one all week.

THE SCIENCE PART: this nutritional supplement partners the much-touted Green Tea with Arginine, Taurine, Creatine, Chromium, Guarana, and GABA. All are natural ingredients. The combination of all of these ingredients results in a formula that causes the body to undergo THERMOGENESIS.
WHY IT WORKS: Thermogenesis increases the body’s metabolism, [more calories burned and a higher energy level], thanks to the Guarana and Taurine. If you’re feeling more energetic, your chances of doing more exercise increase, and you’ll burn even more calories!

To order call 1-800-608-MENS or visit the official website
www.MenScience.com


XEN-TAN’s TRANSFORM”, THE NEW GRADUAL SELF-TAN

We’ve finally discovered a self-tanner we can live with. Spring clothes this year are bright in color and, as Michael Kors famously declared, “everyone looks better with a tan!”

THE PROMISE: “a streak-free, orange-free, sun kissed glow thanks to “a new time release ingredient in a new delicious smelling, paraben-free formula”.

THE TEST: We tried it for 2 weeks. Self-tanners are easy, inexpensive and what’s one more cream added on to your daily regime anyway?

HOW IT PERFORMED:
Like the Olympic judging panel, we broke scoring down into a few key categories.
“5”= BEST,
“1” = WORST

SCENT: 4 for a pleasantly light melon smell.

HOW IT GOES ON: 5
Its white color makes it easy to see where it needs to be rubbed in better.

TAN DELIVERY: 5
This gradual tan looks completely “real” so much so that we continue to use it daily. Who wants to look like Kasper when in sandals and dresses at Mercedes Benz LA Fashion Week?

Six ounce tube, $17
www.XEN-TAN.com
tel: 1-866-XEN-TANS

PRESCRIPTIVES CUSTOM BLEND LIP GLOSS
FOUND - The perfect shade of lip-gloss on the last day of New York Fashion Week, at the Spanx/Prescriptives Suite at the Byrant Park Hotel. They can make ANY color you ask, whether it’s the pale nude-Posh Spice peach we left with or Diana Vreeland’s iconic red – your choice, no problem. Prescriptives’ VANESSA CABASSA, Senior Makeup artist and Business Manager for the company’s makeup counter at Bergdorf Goodman listened, blended and shook our custom color while we chatted and picked her brain about skin care. She is a font of knowledge about skin care issue and spoke knowledgeably to our skin concern of the moment.

LYRA MAG: Our skin is looking tired after 10 days of Fashion Week. Our complexion looks increasingly ruddy. We have the same problem when we travel to attend Mercedes Benz LA and Miami Fashion Weeks. Any tips?

VANESSA CABASSA: You need to examine your environment. There are 3 big culprits when it comes to ruddy skin: pollution, ozone and smoke [second hand smoke counts too!]. Once you eliminate any or all of these factors, your skin will calm down.

Prescriptives custom blend lip-gloss is available at Bergdorf Goodman.
Price: $26
To order or for inquiries, call 212-872-2765.