LYRA MAG.

NYC COFFEE FESTIVAL The same humans that grew up with 'smart'screens- swiping ... are  becoming coffee (and tea) drinkers = born after Starbucks ubiquitously introduced caffeine consumers to better brews. Tastebuds have - evolved further (Starbucks now  'gets' that with its Reserve Roasteries) PREMIUM QUALITY-transparent chain supply-exceptional designs . Travelers sipping  un caffé  better tasting than the average American 'joe,  caring about sustainability+sourcing directly- and the specialty foodie culture- have all contributed to the wonderful world  of more coffee deliciousness. Part One: Single Origin=Small Batch : coffee beans (and chocolates) from a distinct region yield flavors-nuanced and bold. Similar to wine descriptions-(and what we wrote about recently -in coverage of the Fancy Food Show )-coffee beans have  distinct aromas and palate hints beyond dark-medium-light-courtesy of soil, altitude, climate and roasting techniq...

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...

Like the food/specialty food industry-the beauty/skincare biz is booming for small time companies. Nimbleness, fast to market trend driven products-fit categories =clean, 'simple ingredients,' hemp + CBD, eco+ sustainable packaging, detox from urban-or digital life- parallels the food as medicine phenom   and /or J and K beauty favs like facial masks-for the masses. Part One: One of the Indie Beauty Expo favs-with a perpetually packed booth... Oral Hygiene masters- Terra & Co . showed biodegradable dental necessities...like the nifty packaged  bamboo +activated charcoal dental floss. in recycled paper-recyclable packaging with the bamboo charcoal floss threaded via the top of the zero-waste paper board box. $10 SMART. FYI-works just as well as the landfill clogging plastic kind. 32 yards. Terra & Co. other dental products...a bamboo wood handled toothbrush with biodegradable BPA-free nylon bristles, Brilliant Black Toothpaste  $15 (with baking soda ...

 Upcycled ingredients-re-purposed for eating-is common amongst professional chefs and everyday home cooks. That means -for example, taking parts of fruits/vegetables that were usually tossed-like stalks, cores, peels-and using them to make other eats-soups, purées etc. A new(ish) standout: Brooklyn based- RISE Craft Flour -is a byproduct of nearby beer making (makers)...using the spent grains from breweries (byproduct of the first stage of beer making=malt barley) as the base of a true versatile flour that's naturally high in fiber/protein and less carbs-than the regular kind. VERY COOL Available ONLINE RISE Craft Flour can be used interchangeably as flour in recipes-like pizza+ pie crusts, crackers and sweets. The dark flour-comes courtesy of stout, fyi-great for brownies. The light version -from IPA and Pilsner. Recipes online.     Rejected Potato Produce: Kettle Cooked-non-GMO UGLIES Potato Chips...are crispy-greasy enough in a good way. Honestly sin...

Part One: As consumers worldwide shift their thinking (or vocabulary) from anti-aging to wellness-their priorities for what is desire-able is also getting re-fresh too. SRO-a program on regulation-part of the very well attended Indie Brand How To's from Inception to Concept The Basics: Want to know the latest wellness trends for skin/haircare? Walk the aisles of a supplier trade show-for an education on cutting edge ingredients-usually before they're 'in' the retail market. We've been covering these kinds of events for years-learning where/how both big companies and individuals-source their products/ingredients. Open secret: Sometimes the splashy marketed products and cult favs contain the same ingredients from the same source... or private label manufacturers. an exception for global brand-albeit smallish one- natural leaning  Tata Harper  Skincare doesn't out-source formulations for its products...'crafted' at an in-house lab acc...