LYRA MAG.

Before the crowds shut you out-or turn you off from going...the March-April months of early Spring / Fall are ideal for travel. For onboard comfort...a few key carry-on items can start the journey in transit, calmly.   Fingerless Gloves :                    Pandemonium Millinery -a woman owned / Seattle made business-has a terrific collection of faux fur everything -including rather stylish and versatile  finger -less gloves for when a tad of warmth is needed (including those drafty plane rides). BONUS: smartphone swiping friendly...gush-worthy matching scarves.  Skincare :                   Travel sizes are essential-fortunately our fav YON KA PARIS bestsellers- including the healing Toning spray mist- come in TSA worthy sizes. Double as soothers/moisturizer with essential oils-  just one spritz aromatically manages to relax nerves still recovering from that check-i...

The importance of a healthy gut microbiome (good bacteria+immune cells)-fed by pre/probiotics/fiber...has been scientifically linked to our well being.  Everything from anxiety levels, digestive issues,  auto-immune diseases (as in rheumatoid arthritis), and even lately neurological diseases like Parkinson's   are linked to having bad gut health...  So common sense would of course -synch up nourishing the largest human organ-our skin-via pre/probiotics to obtain the skin equivalent of a healthy gut.  From Europe-the LaFlore skincare collection actually contains (rather amazingly-via patented technology, 3rd party tested ) LIVE pre and probiotics-from good for you yeasts and bacteria strains- that encourages healthy cellular turnover for fresh glowy skin...creating a desired barrier to environmental pollution that is everywhere, indoors and outside. Especially good for sensitive skin-its key products are truly loaded with good bacteria (ingredient lists confirm ...

With the 'journey' now being more stressful than ever (high gas prices! airport delays! flights canceled!) the destination needs to be more 'calming' than ever for need to chill out seekers.  For Value Budgeteers wanting self-care with a tad less emphasis on the 'self' (as in selfish) part-the non-profit Le Monastère Des Augustines, very accessible from the tourist destination-Old Quebec City...offers basic and contemporary rooms, healthy meals-dining (and snacks/picnics to go), multiple inclusive wellness packages or á la carte hands on holistic options of soothing pampering  massages and treatments,  mental respites in leafy green outdoor sanctuaries -including yoga, private meditations/movement sessions -and seasonal winter cross-country- downhill skiing on the slopes of nearby mountains. With a history of spiritualism combined with the healing -Le Monastère Des Augustines has reimagined and updated its historic architectural structures and thoughtfully ...

Beauty/Cosmetic/Skincare Trends The number of attendees at skincare/cosmetic ingredient -raw suppliers trade shows has noticeably been growing since we've been covering this industry. Big and small independent companies alike-looking for the next ingredient to make their products stand out in a crowded marketplace...were strolling the aisles-and packed  the trend forecasting seminars at the go round of In-Cosmetics. Highlights: Waterless products have been around for awhile- our first LUSH bars' of shampoo/conditioner + popular bath bomb buys at one of their first stores -in Vancouver,  British Columbia-was about 24 years ago. Now fresh drinking water (and the lack there of ) -and the industries that suck it up-are well known. Using less of this precious commodity- along with less non-recyclable-eco packaging-were two standout trends we hope become completely mainstream in the skincare/beauty/cosmetics productions. A top pick for cool new 'thing'- at the ...

The annual late summer trade show- MakeUp in NY -was more crowded than in past years-with the ease of launching indie brands -getting even easier since we've been covering this...and other supplier trade events for the past decade+. WHAT: A nice format-of private labs with custom options, biz consultants, packaging and marketing services geared towards individuals ready to carve out their place in the DTC world---all under one roof-with USA, European and S. Korean brands- knowledgeable in the particular cosmetic and labeling requirements on a global basis. We felt that one's natural skin-only better still ruled at the show geared towards American customers-with the concept of 'just the right amount' aka 'not too much' 'perfect simple' =mantra. For Schwan Cosmetics , these Swedish concepts of  HYGGE and LAGOM  -ties into WELLNESS-  for their 2019/20 theme-including a new palette packed shimmery mineral-y eye shadows, and matte  muted autumnal col...

  The best indie Beauty brands blend natural botanicals and sustainably sourced ingredients-cruelty free.   YON-KA s an established French multi-tasking skincare entity since 1954-always had a mission-to make skincare products that are  "a perfect symbiosis of science and nature." With many different product collections for face-body-suncare---their full and travel sized products include the popular Essentials line. Pictured above-the refreshing alcohol free-essentials oils' blessed toner spray mist, YON-KA individual products target every kind of skin concern-for men and women. LOVE- a whimsical graphic-on the limited edition Lotion Yon-Ka that delivers right in time for the holidays.  Like the specialty food industry-eco and ethically sourcing and paying fair labor wages is a concern-a reason why we don't see mineral mica in makeup much anymore (child slave labor). TOOGGA  sources key ingredients from African co-ops and plants one tree per produ...

CBD oil in hair care-is new to the market. SMOOTH & STRONG Professional had many cool 'clean' products. Similar to a few well established private label makeup-skincare companies covered from prior tradeshows-this company has launched their own DTC brand! It's difficult to gauge what really is the effective amount of CBD OIL per ounce in a specific product- to really have an anti-inflammatory healing impact. We're assuming the CBD quality  source is as equally important. Smooth & Straight Professional h air care products promote smooth-shiny anti-frizz-hydrated locks. All of the company products -are color safe, unisex, good for all hair types (multi-cultural)- and made without gluten, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, artificial colors or DMDMH (a microbial/preservative derived from formaldehyde). The mask pictured above-is lightweight but adds a lot of hydration-and on hair- CBD oil improves elasticity (too). The Hair Masque-has 1000mg CBD 4oz-def on th...

 Balms and creams deliver relief for aches and pains-where you need it-and work speedily too.  There are a slew of DIFFERENT kinds of hemp plant derived hemp oil ( Cannabis Sativa seed oils) that are having a marketing  moment. Despite much information-consumers still can mix-up the differences between the THC loaded hemp plant one, and the CBD loaded one...and plain ole' hemp oil without any cannabinoids- that's been around the USA in products- for years, and years. Think of it like fruit-all related but different (apples vs oranges) Of common importance-is the purity of the hemp source-as hemp picks up whatever is in the soil it is grown in-and that includes bad stuff like pesticides, toxic metals + chemicals...etc. Look for organic, full spectrum third party verified CBD (on the label -smart code etc) to ensure potency and purity. Currently there aren't any USDA organic standards for hemp. With that general info-one  easy to rub in cream tried-that helpe...

Scorchers require better hydration: Think Hydrogen. NEW:   HyVIDA . a canned refreshingly sparkling water has Hydrogen and Magnesium infused molecules which give it a higher pH and better taste. Available in two certified organic flavors -zero calories. Why it's good? As an anti-inflammatory-hydrogen/magnesium in water-is blessed with natural anti-oxidants-good for skin + body cells. Reportedly it aids vitality(ATHLETE ESSENTIAL)-as drinking hydrogen water results in a more alkaline state -better for health + theoretically anti-aging too.  Tasty + thirst quenching:   Available now Another type of 'functional foods-nutritional supplements-as well as health beverages-are popular. In Japan-cult fav company Pink Cross (toner mists are bestsellers and available here)-has a new Oral Drop Hydrogen-a lemon flavored tablet to drop in water-aiming to (similarly)-boost hydrogen levels in the body-reducing oxidative stress-and pop up energy levels. Scorchers require lo...

For every ritual- 10-step K beauty addict we know-there's 498 others-that are 'only' one-maybe two steppers. Not just a J beauty 'thing'-multifunctional everything for busy lives-includes the most cutting edge ingredients-in one product. Travel and athlete musts too- where simple, effective and portable are three adjective necessities. Our top choice for physical sunblocks ( yup the only kind we use aka the kind that  works )-is the  TIZO line of mineral based skincare. For years now. Added Plus:  TIZO Photoceutical-is a very worthy addition to its effective sun protection collection, rated SPF 40 -with UVA-UVB blocking Zinc Oxide 16% in its fusion of protective ingredients. (IMO-physical sunblocks- unlike nasty bad for the environment chemical sunscreens-probably offer up blue (smartphone/screen light blocking properties too) In this winning formula-that goes on smoothly (dimethicone) + evenly -with a super light breathable feel (lightly tinted) -are...

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 ...