LYRA MAG.

R elax anywhere... Part 3 Insta-calming-pure essential oils-aromatherapy-is one of the easiest and most effective ways to chill out in a fast paced life. Easiest way -especially when not at home is to sprinkle 2-3 drops of a soothing USDA Certified Organic essential oils - on a lightbulb or in a bath (with muscle soothing Epsom salts). Calmers include lavender (our pick for soaks=non-irritating for the skin)-or aromatic fruity orange, sweet mandarin, spice-y frankincense, florals geranium, rose and cleansing spearmint. Find travel sizes of essential oils (10ml, 20ml,30ml)- pretty much anywhere one can shop-online or brick+mortar outlets. Inexpensive too. Our pick- the single essential USDA Organic oils from Wyndmere Naturals. On the road help and just beautiful to look at...  Minnie Park 's limited edition candle infused with calming lavender essential oil and pieces of clarifying amethyst stones. Light one to make any not home -impersonal room, more cozy AT HO...

NYC The late Intelligent Nutrients founder Horst Rechelbacher -a man dedicated to a purer life without toxic chemicals...made quite the favorable impression on us. We are always ref-ing the wide-ranging convo- had a few years back - that included his astute observation that a stroll down any typical haircare aisle in any retail outlet-serves up shampoos (or conditioners) where the first five- thereby main ingredients...would mostly be the same. Point being...high or lower priced, there is plenty of toxicity shared by all things devoted to cleansing/caring for precious stresses. Hence the USDA Certified Organic label-the highest standard for 'green' imo-is seen a very few haircare brands ...but are happily on high performance products- including our two favs -the aforementioned  I ntelligent Nutrients  and TELA BEAUTY Organics by Philip Pelusi . AND there is a growing awareness by all haircare brands---that consumers world wide are aware of the negative association...

Numero uno must wear ( after sunscreen ) -and sometimes 'that's it'--- is concealer. YSL Touché Eclat ($40) and   Clé de Peau 's concealer ($68) got/gets so much press- we bought them to try out. Okay -both are throughly decent products but really , for everyday- the cult fav Eve Pearl Dual Salmon Concealer $39-that is creamy but not greasy-and on occasion, used as a foundation, gets the nod. Also getting used fairly often- truly only need a freckle size IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereyes $24 mixed up with moisturizer for sheerer coverage. left to right- well used-Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer Duo (handy mirror compact), Clé de Peau Powder and a smashed several times Smashbox Photo Set Pressed Powder -mirror compact too. Sponge applicator comes with it-but we like using a foundation brush…for contouring. Separate foundations-akin to fancy and casual wardrobe options-seem to fit. The black tie go to was the  Cle de Peau  Cream Foundation-but we finished that -(over a 3...

Takara Belmont, West 56th Street, NYC words/images Judith Ecochard What a spot-on spot for a hair products launch... we thought -the nanosecond we walked into the elegant limestone building housing the salon equipment of leading design/manufacturer Takara Belmont ..for a media preview of USDA certified organic -  Intelligent Nutrients PureLuxe Shampoo and Conditioner...styling products (all new to us)--- and a terrific-made from recycled materials- Original Paddle Brush (we know fab when our wet tresses gets brushed and there's a lack of ripped out hair strands). Since the intro to the essential oils collection ( we wrote about last month )---we knew to expect exotically scented products that are delicious smelling-made with pure essential oils-not some chemically derived facsimiles... And on that aromatic note, we certainly thought that the lightly scented Purelux Harmonic Shampoo and Conditioner were just right. We think about what we put on our s...

"You're Beautiful, Healthy and Alive. Let's Keep It That Way" One Fifth Avenue, NYC words/images Judith Ecochard A beautiful Art Deco landmark's penthouse apartment- as a nesting ground---is enough to make most NYCers swoon---but couple this with a vibrant Minneapolis 600 acre organic farm, retreat/spa...all around sanctuary/haven for rejuvenation---and violà, a recipe for joy and contentment. And that's what we immediately felt, without a trace of native irony- when we (re)met, Horst M. Rechelbacher-founder of this lifestyle brand -and really--- an educator, who opened his Manhattan abode to a gaggle full of media types---and re-iterated what we all should know... MEANING: why pesticide free, USDA certified organic (a very high standard that is costly and time consuming to earn), food grade ingredients in skin/hair products- are the way to go (the body absorbs so much-it should be good enough to eat)--- ...