LYRA MAG.

Part One: A destination 'experience' for design professionals...the Decorator & Design Building Spring Market 2019 - day long celebration of American and British "Vanguards & Visionaries"   was more than a how to succeed as an interior designer primer. Packed with INFORMATION courtesy of knowledgeable media editor- led roundtables on career high ( low) points, usable timely advice served up by a stellar lineup of industry panelists, showroom open houses with enviable merchandise displays--- plus book signings and cocktail soirées... the day's hours flew by....keeping building elevator banks  very busy. The thematic underpinnings= a metaphoric road map on career building and successful business practises-relevant tips for both emerging and seasoned interior designers - shined through in the three  keynote sessions: Inspiring Designers: An In-Depth Look At Their Obstacles and Rewards  with Bravo TV's Best Room Wins judges and industry luminarie...

Part 2 ( Part 1 ) Bergdorf Goodman's Palette-adorn with NO based artist Ashley Longshore signature pop art style and humor. Pale, tart or punk-ed... pink is popping' up everywhere... Soft shade of BLUSH...by NINA in their wedding -and prom worthy shoes + clutches ...elegant  Contesa Bloom Reflective Suedette $79, pleated clutch Locklin  $33.60 (or go deep in persian rose options) Warm+shaggy...glam faux fur is THE luxurious outerwear worthy of both genders who make wardrobe  statements. The new label N'ONAT by Nihan Onat =our cold weather obsession (Instagram @nonatatelier ) FOREO- Luna Mini and Mini 2-ultra soft silicone cleaning brushes-T-Sonic™technology- sonically cleans. We love this magenta color-that's trending in beauty tools and kitchen utensils-though home appliances are still sticking with a pastel pink (for now).   via GIPHY NAKED... Half Naked Watermelon Passion Fruit is a handy refreshing smoothie-for p...

Part One: The colors of everything we wear, eat, see, live in and around...actually can make a big statement and have a big impact. Getty Images-the 411   The House Speaker's bold fuchsia style-at swearing in Congressional ceremony. Power moves empower. More potent than ' millennial pink' but in keeping with  clean   trends-a round-up of stuff that caught our eyeballs-in that special  blue/red mashup. At the 2019 NYSCC Suplliers'Day tradeshow-BASF flashy flashy launched a vegan palette aka carmine -free (that means no dead beetles) CHIONE™ ELECTRIC FUSCIA for the ages -a pure metallic color w/o the usual undertones. Expect to see this added to many makeup collections conjuring up many shades of pink  REALLY SOON. Montonale Rosato-60% Marzemino, 40% Rebo At a recent Provence wine seminar- tasting hosted by select wines growers of that southern French region...we learned that pink beverages are trending overall-adding to th...

What do we think about when we think about what constitutes good health? As endurance athletes-we pride ourselves on 'positive' daily habits that keep us moving' + groin'...courtesy of multi-hour workouts that are more like moving meditations-outdoors . Yet, even the 'cleanest' of lives need help and practically a  hyper awareness of typical modern day  'stuff' that's sneakily detrimental. SO whether it's nutrition, attire, or the environment we spend hours in- inside or out ...what's useful for  humans out there to achieve the ultimate in self care goals-good health- is readily available...including modest lifestyle changes that are free and affordable purchases worth the  price points. Up Next: Household Tips That Will Keep The Weekend Warriors and Pro Athletes to Ready Set Go. via GIPHY

The USAers  who grew up gazing at screens and themselves-are aging. And that's a big reason that preventive skincare (vs waiting till it's 'cure' time)-is a lifestyle given. Two dominant trends... multi-functional products -science based-or EWG approved ("cleaner")=-have led to an avalanche of gender specific + genderless indie brands-that can take advantage of cutting edge research-to deliver skin saviors without undesirable ingredients (that are probably outlawed in the EU/Canada , already). What's New and Legit: Currently a DTC brand Good Science Beauty®  recently launched six focused skincare products based on the revolutionary (patented) dermis delivery wonder silicon (no "e" aka Good Silicon+™ ). Background: Ten years of research headed up by leading light Suzanne Saffi-Siebert, PhD-underpins the basis for Good Science Beauty® uniqueness-ensuring efficacy of symbiotic active ingredients "deep within the skin" and ...

While a lot has been buzzed about J beauty (Japan)---it's  the bio based ingredients-with 'natural' sustainably sourced-that really stood out for us. via GIPHY Evonik -a fav destination at these cosmetic-skincare-haircare  supplier shows-with the coolest samples of new ingredient loaded products...is really branching out in an interesting way. They should launch their own direct to consumer company. WHAT: "The fusion of ancient wisdom and advanced technology" is their MO-for the newish Evonik Advanced Botanicals division.   "In-vitro-cultivation"-inspired by traditional Ayurvedic medicine-inspired the types of plants  grown in controlled (indoor) environments in France-that reminded us of urban farming at its best-no pesticides, herbicides, or GMO anything,  needed. Or deforestation-aka social exploitation. The first product form Evonik Advanced Botanicals  is NeoPlanta® Withania-an urban pollution fighter-balancing skin serum-that's vegan...

Suppliers' Day SUNSCREENS Nature inspired science to renew and protect the human body's biggest organ... was the dominant theme for skincare ingredient companies. As big users of physical sunblocks (a laymen's term)-we noticed quite a few enhanced zinc oxide and titanium oxide -aka inorganic ingredients-amped up with "actives" Mineral sunscreens- notably are  tested and labelled correctly - for all the different global requirements (like FDA Category 1 Sunscreens) . The big deal breakthroughs: environmentally safer, added protection vs blue light + infrared rays, non-irritating, and imo-better efficacy- longer lasting (our experience)-than toxic chemical equivalents and formulations. (Cue the power of  the EWG ). AND physical sunblocks don't leave a white pasty film-making them suitable for more skin tones...and aren't as pricey vs those nasty chemical sunscreens-anymore. NEWer Ingredients: KOBO 's - four in one multi-purpose sunscreen ...

Suppliers' Day-Javits 'Cleaner" HAIR HELP-Proven Efficacy: Humans have been trying to 'tame' their tresses for decades (centuries) with toxic (really) chemicals, hair tools -and/or natural butters + oils to eliminate frizz and straighten out hair follicles not born that way. via GIPHY Though  'clean' beauty silicone subs seem to be offered up by several companies (see examples below)---...Sensient Cosmetic Technologies new Sensityle® Curl relaxer -billed as a "...natural and effective hair relaxing technology..." really caught our eyeballs as super unique . WHAT IT IS: Explained  with a backstory first: The idea for this new (November '18) product treatment -was inspired by meat tenderizers . AS IN-the powdery stuff shaken on meat to make it more tender-made of pineapple and papaya -two fruits also hailed for their anti-inflammatory properties (Bromelain + Papain)... with hydrolyzed yeast proteins=leading to   Sensityle® Curl r...

THE LATEST ingredients ready for time prime+placement. PART ONE Javits Center- NY Society of Chemists SUPPLIERS DAY-is a mob packed annual affair that shows off the possibilities of wellness-self-care via rows of global living exhibitors with the products sourced from nature, man-made and importantly- scientifically verifie d . (Irrespective of our FDA not regulating cosmetic ingredients much ...vs say, OTC drugs  which includes sunscreens/blocks  -prescription drugs-devices). Accordingly - there wasn't much CBD anything lining these aisles beyond a few hemp oil purveyors . HA! Taking a few hours to walk the show-we noticed a slew of interesting formulations and present day concern solutions including: Protection solutions from Bluelight (the light emitted from smartphones, computer screens) and -Infrared Light (half the solar energy that damages skin falls under THAT spectrum-the other half is UVA-UVB radiation)-notably made from large cell titanium dioxide, new n...

Stride right in protective all-day comfort at value prices! For Female Humans... White Mountain  FOOTBEDS-supportive molded cork footbeds -paired with  fashion function upper details...like these adorable two buckle straps-secure feet in with flair. SANDALS- $49-$59 Hilda Vinyl Sandal pictured comes in three colors. FOOTBEDS -Embossed -braided leathers, bows, suede bands -with single -or double adjustable straps  available  online and retail stores- Macy's Velcro straps adjust for comfort...grippy anti-slip rubber undersoles-flyknit mesh uppers For FURRY COMPANIONS Fairy Boss has a slew of stylish FOKWOK sandals (and rainboot) options for canine paws large-to teeny tiny venturing out in the heat. Packaged in twos' in case front-back paw sizes differ ($20)...and in fours-these easy to get on comfy sandals-protect dogs- from yucky pesticides-chemicals (lawn alert)-sharp objects-and hot surfaces. Or random stray electricity!...

Pet products hitting the market are so similar to humans, No surprise really-as humans project their preferences-in eats, treats and wardrobe choices- onto their furry family members. Hyped or helpful CBD made from industrial hemp (the non-psycho-active kind <.03THC) have certainly exploded on the marketplace...for dogs/cats. Like the human counterpoints-where the hemp is sourced and how it's extracted -make a difference-especially since the 'evidence' of CBDs healthy helpful powers are observed rather than scientifically studied at this point. At a recent pet expo-transparency and traceability of products (QR coded labels help!!!) was buzzed about...as sourcing of hemp is an issue-notably claims of organic hemp when there's no USDA Organic certified versions...the superiority of full spectrum hemp (vs cannabinoids stripped isolate)...and CO2 extraction method. (For the 411 on CBD-hemp oil -read our summary+   analysis of CBD ) Dr. Bob Goldstein's ...

'Public' art digitally exhibited. The  MvVO Art Fair 2019-a select juried show of works by individuals employed in the advertising industry-harkens back to the genius inspiration of Andy Warhol's embrace of art/commerce...but in a very 21st century way. Literally the brain child of founder & CEO Maria Van Vlodrop -this annual exhibition/sale- electronically lights up this year ...and will be seen by  hundreds of thousands of humans-courtesy of a link up with 140 UES-Lincoln Center-midtown Manhattan's LinkNYC kiosks (May 1-4, 5-7PM) + gallery group shows. PLUS: adding more wow to the wow architectural transit (tourist) hub Oculus-on its hall length massive digital screens, in downtown Manhattan throughout the month of May. Coinciding with Art NewYork  (Pier 94), Frieze New York  on Randall's Island, NYCxDesign  (May 10-22), and collaborating with sponsors like the non-profit Downtown Alliance -and lead sponsors  Westfield WTC+NBC Universal-t...