BEAUTY 212

ALMAY MASCARA REVIEW

2011-10-26T22:52:00.000-04:00

I've grown to loathe mascara. Most mascaras out there irritate my eyes. Other popular formulas make my lashes brittle. Some even cause major lash fallout for me for a multitude of reasons. For $7.50 I thought I would give Almay's new formula GET UP AND GROW in the non-waterproof formula (blackest black) a whirl.

I can't say enough great things about this mascara. From the minute I put it on it made my wimpy lashes buxom. Even the janitor at my office mentioned he noticed something different after I had debuted the mascara. He said 'you look younger for some reason today'. Others noticed as well. So volume: check.

Then I noticed that if I left the formula on overnight (because I was too lazy to take it off) it was really easy to reapply right over what I already had on without clumping. How many mascaras can you say that about????? In fact I feel like the more layers you work with the greater the impact you get without the clumps. Length plus volume: check.

After a week's use I started to notice my lashes grow. Why? This is easily explained. The formula is not drying, but nourishing to the lashes. The lashes remain soft throughout use whereas the other formulas on the market are quite drying and make my lashes blunt from breakage over time.

This formula also does not irritate me. This is a huge plus.

I could see a couple of cons with this formula. If you have oily skin this formula might give you a raccoon eye at the end of the day like some of the old mascaras in the 80's did. I don't get it because I have dryer skin, but the formula is so emollient I could see it causing a problem.

The second thing I noticed while using it on some models at a photoshoot the other day is that if you have very straight lashes the formula may not hold your curl as well. It just means you might have to maneuver your curler a little bit more. Not a deal breaker for me when you consider all of the other advantages.

Overall I have not been this thrilled about a mascara in a very long time. Look back at the posts and see.

Let me know what you think!

p.s. I think I'll try the waterproof next. Something tells me the non-waterproof is still going to be the best formula for me though.

TESTING. TESTING

2011-04-17T01:21:00.007-04:00

Did you know we test thousands of products a year in both health and skincare? If you're an editor at a magazine you probably know this about us.

Many have noted our blog entries are spread really far apart. The reason is solely because Beauty 212 is reserved for products that catch our eye. These products are high performers or products we think you should really know about. Believe it or not there's about 4 in the final phases of testing that we really love!

In the past we have also learned a valuable lesson on behalf of the consumer: wait to post until you see the long-term results. If we don't wait the companies are the ones who benefit from these postings leaving the consumer still struggling in the vast beauty wastelands. All we did was increase the product's SEO (search engine optimization). It's only happened a couple of times, but that is two times too many for us.

It takes a lot of hard work and research to do what we do. We have over 700 human testing lab rats at any given time. If a majority likes a product and benefits from the product then you're going to know about it.

We also have one of the most advanced pieces of imaging equipment on the market that measures 3mm below the skin. We can measure collagen, check out sun damage, and see if there's any improvement in blood flow. It also keeps a timeline of the tester.

On a different note I'm proud to say today Marie Claire recognizes us for the hard work we do in the May issue. It talks about us exposing Korea's brave new world of beauty advancements. We are about 12 years behind! Thank you so much Marie Claire for educating the public on the real truth about beauty!

Want to be a Beauty 212 tester?

Email us at mybeauty212@yahoo.com
Let us know why you think you would make a good tester and what kind of products you would like to test.

xo mary schook

p.s. Check out our weekly blog postings at http://www.tuesdaytips.blogspot.com

AFFORDABLE ECO

2011-03-29T17:07:00.009-04:00

It's not the fact that this train case is made out of natural hemp and cotton or that it uses recycled PET liners that makes it attractive. Nor is it the fact that the ink is non-toxic....and I can't say the idea of Alicia Silverstone having designed this bag makes it any more attractive. Nope.

This stylish bag represents so much more. This Eco Tools bag that debuted last week at a press breakfast I attended signifies something that is key to every consumer (and what every company should strive for): affordable eco consumption. Eco Tools believes "why sell a product to reduce the carbon footprint if no one is going to be able to afford it anyway"?

Purchasing power means everything, but if you can't purchase a product that supports a cause you are passionate about (whether it's Chantecaille's marine missions or a Coach bag for Cancer) then what's the point?

Eco-Tools is making affordability without compromise their mission with this beautiful well-built bag that retails at $14.99 (avail Target, Walmart, and other major retailers). It's just nice to see someone like Alicia Silverstone catch on to a good thing. ;)

p.s. it's even cuter in person.

THE HOLY GRAIL OF SKINCARE

2010-11-26T12:04:00.011-05:00

We have finally discovered the holy grail of skincare. It comes at a hefty price tag too. The system averages about $2,000 a month.

Never did we dream that a cream or any combination of creams would be able to topically affect the skin. The cream uses stem cell media in combination with liposomes (delivery system). The two materials reside in separate chambers until the serum is pumped through by the user. It also comes with an ionizer to help increase the product's absorption.

It's genius!!!

In our tester her collagen had increased by 20% in only two weeks!!! Check out her blog documentary at amazons of nyc.

Beaucell is a skincare line that hails from Korea. After such stunning results we have decided to carry the line at M.S. APOTHECARY.

Our testing will go on for 6 months to see how long-lasting the effects are. The kit is supposed to be a 30 day supply, but it seems as though it could stretch to about a month and a half.

Take the kit to your esthetician or doctor and the kit transforms into a treatment when you combine it with laser and other modalities.

Stay tuned here for the 4 week pro lab images so you can see what happened to sun damage, blood flow, etc.

Another big star for the Koreans!

SMART GLOW

2010-07-24T14:17:00.004-04:00

Ah gone are the days of baby oil and iodine. Boy did I love to tan. But now we've left one extreme for another. We're in a pasty era of beauty now that is getting us sick in so many ways. Once again the public seems to be misguided about the sun and products we are recommended to wear. Because of this misdirection our country has become depleted of Vitamin D. One of the major things Vitamin D does for us is help protect our immune system. That's why when people with acne go into the sun they start to clear up because their body is able to fight off the bacteria that is invading their bodies.

There is a unique line of products that help us work with the sun and absorb the Vitamin D we really need. It's a line that works from the inside out and even helps to produce a richer, safer tan. The brand is called Oxelio. They had started to invade the tradeshow circuit a couple of years ago, but then my friend Mary Winkenwerder suggested I really give it a whirl.

The line is actually quite brilliant. The gel topically neutralizes the sun with antioxidants leaving less of a risk of age spots or skin cancer.

Internally the capsules add a healthy dose of beta carotene, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and minerals. Even if you don't go into the sun this is a great supplement to have in your beauty arsenal.

For a person such as myself that works in the office 24/7 the capsules took a few weeks to see anything. What it did for me is take some of the blue out of my skin and make me look a little less pasty. Now I really feel the need to go on a vacation somewhere and get a real tan! At least I know I now have the right tools to do it safely!

SHELLACED

2010-05-29T11:53:00.006-04:00

So these are my nails 5 days after a manicure I had to get for a beauty segment for NBC. To be honest with you the manicure didn't even last a day for me.

I am the prime candidate for the new Shellac from CND. It's a polish that's supposed to last flawlessly for 14 days. It's a pro service so Jin Soon Salon and Escape Spa are the only pros who do this right now. On my feet I am currently testing the OPI gel polish. So far that's not too bad, but my feet don't take the wear and tear that my hands do.

If this product performs the way the company touts then I will give you more info. In the meantime I'm going to get this horrible polish off!!!!

Let the testing begin!

GET GLOWING!

2010-04-24T00:07:00.005-04:00

Almost every day or at least every other day I get emails about acne problems! It's always refreshing to get a question about makeup from time to time.
I actually had an old friend email me today and ask me:

"I'm going to be in a wedding next month and I am planning to do my own makeup, normally I wear next to nothing, eye liner, mascara, & lip gloss. Any suggestions on how to spiffy up my look keeping it natural, without looking too overdone?"

It's really great to play around with makeup. The last thing you really want to do is try something because it's in style! You want to feel comfortable at special events and it's really about making yourself look as good as possible! The runway looks are for inspiration and to follow if you have the right look and attitude for it.

In this particular case I felt that my friend really needed to make a statement without being obvious. I used to love Benefit's High Beam liquid shimmer tapped onto the top of the cheekbone and into the lid and browbone area. It gives the face a bit of highlight, dewiness, and glow without looking like you tried too hard. The look can also be quite youthful.

High Beam has been out for a while so I wasn't sure if Benefit still carried it, but I'm glad to see an old goodie is still out there! This color by the way is good for light to medium skin tones. You can find fantastic highlighter sticks by NARS for medium to dark skin tones to complete your look as well!

So don't wait, Get Glowing!

LOSE THE LUGGAGE!

2010-03-29T16:19:00.007-04:00

I'm beginning to think that there must be a spy camera in my office. Every time I have a beauty issue Clinique sends me over a product to test. It's always EXACTLY what I need at that very moment! Might I remind you that I do not get paid for testing and talking about these products!!!

So this morning I woke up with some pretty puffy eyes.(I was so glad I didn't have a client first thing in the morning to worry about scaring). The minute I walked into my office the postman handed me off a package from Clinique. It contained the new All About Eyes Serum. I decided to take a before and after photo to see the product work in action.

I rolled the gentle roller ball both below and above my eyes and into my eyebrows. Not only did depuff my eyes, but it lifted them as well. Within minutes my eyes felt more open and refreshed. I especially liked that it didn't irritate my eyes.

Oh, just in case you couldn't tell the above picture is the before and the one below is the after. Notice how my upper lids are not hanging over my lower lids in the after picture. Eyes are definitely much wider as well!

This might become my new beauty essential!

HIGHLIGHT YOUR DAY

2010-02-09T00:53:00.003-05:00

Nothing gives me more pleasure than to see a product make a difference in someone's life. My friend Ameena Meer is a currently a cancer fighter. She has lost all of her hair, most of her lashes, and a big portion of her brows from her chemotherapy treatments.
When Clinique sent me the New Instant Lift For Brows I thought who better to test it out on than Ameena!

Ameena loved the brow pencil and highlighter combo. The pencil wasn't intimidating for her to use. The brow color didn't go on like a pencil either. It went on more like a shadow which gives a very natural look and it seemed to have staying power so you don't have to go reapplying it every hour or worry about sweating.

The highlighter is an added bonus that opens up the eyes. The formula is very smooth, but what I REALLY like about the highlighter is that it can double as a cheek highlighter which can give Ameena more of a youthful, glowing look instead of a sunken, tired look.

This pencil is definitely going to become a staple in my kit especially now that the Models Prefer pencil is so hard to purchase!

You can follow Ameena's brave journey at http://amazonsofnyc.blogspot.com/

FOOD, INC AVENUE

2010-01-22T23:17:00.005-05:00

I have a feeling that 2010 is going to be about reinforcing change on so many levels. If you're a client or friend of mine you already know that when it comes to beauty you have to start with change from the inside first by nourishing the body. There are just countless times we have witnessed people just changing what they eat and benefiting from it on the outside. The saying 'you are what you eat' has been passed down since 1826 for a reason! I also always say when you're tired, your cells are tired. Don't expect them to perform any better than you would without sleep. No cream can cure that!

Anyway after seeing the movie Food, Inc I had wondered if the source of our food could really make a difference in how we look? Is it all hype or a bit of food extremism? I've been hearing about our food and what they have been doing to it for years, but it wasn't until I saw the diabetic epidemic spelled out for me (1 in 4 children have diabetes) that I really felt called to take action.
This photo I found featured above couldn't paint a better picture.

So please follow my daily journey for Food, Inc Avenue and let's learn and grow together!

Bon Appetit!

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!

2010-01-10T21:42:00.004-05:00

In the past when it came to skincare many women felt the higher the cost of their cream, the better the performance. Thanks to a sea of blogs and forums on the web consumers are a little savvier to the claims that beauty companies make.

Despite all of the knowledge circulating across the internet we still feel a duty to test products that are constantly being launched out there because a lot of confusion still remains. What's great to know is we will NEVER be bought or swayed even when a friend approaches us like author and stylist extraordinaire Michele Weston.

I had the great fortune of meeting Michele in a past life when she booked me to model on the Oprah show as well as for Mode Magazine where she was the fashion editor. It was then I knew this woman had taste. LOL! Anyway as you can see we have a bit of fun history together. For a while Michele and I lost touch, but thanks to Facebook we found each other all over again. She quickly discovered I was reviewing products and referred a line called Underology TM by Connie Elder.

I contacted Connie and told her to send her top two products to me. She included a few more items she thought I should review as well. Over the last month I did not tell clients that I was testing a new product. They stopped asking anyway because they know we are always testing products around here. When I applied the Underology products I heard a unanimous "that feels nice!" and " What is that?!".

What I like about this line is that you are getting high quality products at about $100 dollars or less. I feel that this line is competitive and even out performs some of the more expensive lines.

Our favorites were:

The Resveratrol-Peptide Firming and Line Formula because the next day you looked like you might have stepped back in time a bit. The skin also felt a bit firmer.

The Hydro Xtreme Cream I think is going to be a big seller. It really brought the moisture back to the skin and doesn't clog pores like a lot of moisturizing creams do.

Another big winner from the line was the Hydro 1000 Moisturizer (100% Hyaluronic Serum). The difference between this Hyaluronic Acid and some of the others on the market is its purity. In addition it doesn't leave that residue you get with a lot of the other Hyaluronic Acids on the market! That is the one thing that women always come to me and complain about. They love Hyaluronic Acid but hate the "rollies."

I feel like anything you use from this line is great and you know you're getting quality products at a VERY reasonable price.
Good job on this find Michele!

Connie has just informed me she has a formula that is great in this severe cold weather as well as for skiers.
Happens that we have a LOT of skiers around here so we will let you know how that formula tests with us.

Are there some products out there you would love for us to test? Are you up for the Beauty 212 challenge?

Thanks again for visiting and Happy New Year too!

Mary Schook

BOLD BEAUTY

2009-12-21T22:32:00.005-05:00

For years now I have been very concerned about what I put on my body. The problem was there weren't many products available that were "natural" and if there were they weren't widely available.

Thanks to consumer buying power and the pressure from small innovative beauty companies the larger companies were forced to step up their game by removing the stuff you don't really need and keeping in or adding ingredients we can use.

Today I would like to applaud Arm & Hammer for being one of the "big" companies to take out the stuff we don't really need.

I was very excited when I first saw the ads for Arm & Hammer's Essentials Natural Deodorant because we all know that baking soda is tough on odors. I still had a little doubt in my head as to how effective the Arm & Hammer would be. Over the last year I was beauty director for an organic magazine and had a chance to "test" SEVERAL of the natural deodorants. They all basically failed the test in odor protection. There's nothing like going around apologizing for your odor because you're testing a deodorant. A socially crippling job, but someone's gotta do it.

I also didn't feel the need to test another deodorant. I already have a favorite natural deodorant that I love called Crystal Alley Deodorant, Keeping Abreast of it. It is made of Angstrom Zinc and Silver which kill odor causing bacteria. I wish I could say the same for a lot of the natural deodorants out there. BUT since a lot of viewers from BEAUTY 212 have told us they would like for us to report on products that are more mainstream I decided to take one for the team.

The moral of the story is I have run out of my Crystal Alley Deodorant and can feel confident about substituting in the Arm & Hammer Natural Deodorant! Two thumbs up on this one!

GREENGATE

2009-12-17T01:35:00.006-05:00

Due to popular request many people have asked me to republish my writing and video on Green Cosmetics. This is the pre-edited piece I submitted to an international magazine before it was published in 2008.

Let me know if you have any questions. I will also be following up on this piece with my current thoughts on natural beauty care. Enjoy!

BREAST CANCER VIDEO

GREENGATE
By Mary Schook

We live in an exciting time in cosmetics and skincare! Consumers are currently more educated than ever before about the wide array of product ingredients and packaging choices, but with the rapid upswing in naturals do we really know what we are buying? Does natural really mean better? Does natural even really mean natural?

After a tumultuous 2008 Presidential election and the recent hit to the economy one would think that nothing else could be more taxing or confusing, yet the fact of the matter is the beauty industry is going through it’s own mortgage crisis. Many consumers and even business owners view the current state of the market as the Wild West when it comes to organic and natural personal care products.

For entertainment purposes I’ll call the current state of the industry Greengate. On the far left we have the super corporate conglomerates. On the far right there are the indie or independent companies that tend to be the smaller companies, but before we delve into Greengate, we need to explore how we ever reached this point of mass confusion in the first place?
As a former top makeup artist and current owner of one of NYC’s top anti-aging centers I have always made it my business to stay ahead of the technologies and trends through my greatest source, the packaging and cosmetic conventions.
When I first entered the convention scene over 15 years ago the personal care industry was just at the verge of hitting the age of technology. Consumers demanded lipsticks that lasted all day and mascaras that would go to great lengths without smudging. Creams filling the pages of magazines promising the miracle of youth in a jar and foundations swore luminous coverage throughout the day. The seduction of advertising made the public think we could all become genetically superior beings after observing the commercials and relishing the ads touting the transformation of countless flawless faces, lengthened lashes, cellulite-free legs, and anything else a woman could ever desire through the introduction of Photoshop® and CGI.

It’s not that women didn’t always want these things. We know dating as far back as Cleopatra youth was what people had always desired the most, yet technology brought us hope and ad copy writers made us think that all of those things could be effortlessly achieved with that one magic bottle of cream because technology was now going to save us all. The consumer demanded results and companies quickly recognized that buyers were willing to pay any price for those promises. Even as recently as three years ago one popular company commanded as much as $700 for one ounce of precious anti-aging serum.

The greatest marked evolution in the industry was the introduction of technology through nanotechnology used in anti-aging. Nano means at a cellular level. Up tp that point most creams sold on the market couldn’t get past the epidermis, the first layer of skin which happens to be dead anyway. The particles were too large, but if you make those particles small enough to enter the cell through nano technology it would most likely deliver the “goodies” to the lower layers of the skin. Keep in mind that also means chemicals, which are foreign to our bodies, are also more likely to enter the blood stream.

According to Oxana Beauregard of the NYC’s prestigious esthetics school, Atelier Esthetique, a new scenario surfaced from all of the new skincare advancements. Instead of there being only four skin types: dry, normal, oily, and combination, a fifth one surfaced: sensitive. Formulations made popular on the market that were fast-acting for acne, hyper-pigmentation, and other conditions were more likely to come at a cost to the skin by destroying the delicate balance the skin must have to protect itself. Sensitivities and hyper-pigmentation can begin to surface with exposure to the sun and can even cause an increased susceptibility to skin cancer!

One of the first people who dared to enter the scene and make the public aware of some of these possible problems (after trying to resolve her own skincare issues) was a woman named Paula Begoun, the Cosmetics Cop, and best selling author of Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me. Wait a minute! Why does there even need to be a cosmetics cop? Doesn’t the FDA already regulate our cosmetics and skincare? That’s where the first misconception begins. The FDA does not regulate our skincare and cosmetics the way you think they may. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act products are allowed to be released to the marketplace without FDA approval, which includes the absence of any safety testing. Companies are not even required to substantiate their claims. Manufacturers are only left to bide by the small list of prohibited substances that are banned such as color additives or bovine products imported by countries on the mad cow disease list. They must also disclose all ingredients in descending order of quantity on their labels according to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. As the law stands anyone could come out with a product or a line with enough capital and a compelling story.

The real problem lies in the companies from both the left and the right who have abused these privileges. In the United States companies have the right to make claims under the first amendment, the freedom of speech as long as they stay within the minute guidelines administered by the FDA. That first amendment and lack of regulation is what brings us up to Greengate.

Shortly after the technology portion of the industry was beginning to take shape so were the smaller independent companies. These small companies were coming out with products that fit a niche and a need. One such company that impressed me at a California trade show eight years ago was called Illuminare Cosmetics. Founder and president Ruthie Molloy was able to formulate the first pure liquid mineral makeup on the market with long-lasting wear and broad-spectrum sun protection. Her greatest philosophy was not about what she puts in her products, but what she keeps out of them. You won’t find wild orchid extract or any ylang ylang. She finds that adding extra ingredients only adds a potential risk of irritating the skin. Her products are meant to perform and do what they say. That should be enough right?

Several other companies followed similar philosophies, but they weren’t so easy for the public to find. These indie products were usually found in specialty stores or in small sections of a Whole Foods or other green marketplaces. It wasn’t until a report of a study surfaced about parabens found in breast tissue samples did an entire natural industry go from specialized to mainstream. Word of this report spread like wildfire throughout the public via the internet and press. Overnight paraben became a dirty word. Consumers began a witch hunt to search out products without parabens which caused a new division of the beauty industry to emerge: the Organics, Naturals, 100% pures, Paraben Free’s and any other concept in natural branding and trending.

But not every small company felt pressured to jump on the green wagon right away. Luca Sunscreen, a line developed by MD pathologist Karl Gruber decided to consciously keep the parabens in his sunscreen line. Furthermore Karl Gruber states the studies on the breast tissue samples were incomplete and inconclusive. Parabens have been around for over 20 years and have been derived by natural sources such as blueberries. Parabens are also known to have the least amounts of reactions in skincare products. If there was a substantial risk Karl said he would be willing to reformulate in a second. He feels as an indie company and it’ s easier for him to reformulate than it is for the bigger companies. Keep in mind Luca was developed because Gruber couldn’t locate any sunscreens on the market that protected from both UVA and UVB rays. His son Luca was allergic to everything on the market. Why would Gruber want to keep in chemicals deemed toxic to even his own son?
Furthermore Karl is concerned that the alternative preservative choices out there are too new on the market. There is a greater risk of consumer reacting to a product. In addition many “green” companies are stabilizing their formulas with ingredients that sound green such as Grapefruit Seed Extract which is synthetically produced from Grapefruits Seeds under a chemical synthesis.

Then the evangelical side of the right wing came full force this past summer when the former founder of Aveda, Horst Rechelbacher launched a line that called Intelligent Nutrients. IN is a 100% certified organic line that simply states if we can’t eat it why should we wear it? We have an obligation to the planet and ourselves to eliminate all chemicals in our products. Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies and is semi-permeable. Makes sense right?
But is everyone going to love the smell, texture, or performance of 100% organic. Only time will tell with that, but Horst has always been one ahead of his time.

Who’s also ahead of their time are the Koreans. I would speculate they are at least 12 years ahead of us. We owe so many of our beauty innovations to them. At the past Vegas convention this summer my jaw dropped when I saw the amount of parabens contained in their products they chose to feature at the show. They said that the Koreans took out the chemicals and went natural years ago, but manufacturers soon became worried after seeing the hightened number of reactions and a cutback in sales for natural formulations. The Korean skincare industry literally panicked after they saw they were eliminating their consumer all together. So they went back to adding in the parabens.

Some speculate the refusal for the US industry to change is because of cost. The left have said that packaging, reformulation, and eliminating these chemicals is cost prohibitive. Clarissa Richardson of design firm Richardson Sadeki and one of the original developers of the world renowned Bliss Spas in New York says when it comes to retail there is no excuse for not creating a natural product.

With mounting pressure from the public the companies on the left are in fact taking steps to go green. Jergens just launched with what they claim is a 90% natural ingredient moisturizing line called Jergens Naturals Moisturizer, but whether all companies from the left and right like it or not the confusion may be drawing towards a legislative and regulated direction. Over the past year Dr. Bronner’s magic soaps filed a lawsuit over misleading organic labels to companies they felt were misleading the green community. Among the implicated are Oasis and Eco Cert, two third party companies, for certifying products containing conventional agricultural or petrochemical ingredients. In addition some of the other named parties on the suit are Estee Lauder, Stella McCartney’s CARE, Jason Natural, Avalon Organics, and Nature’s Gate Organics. The choice these companies have is to either change the formulations or discontinue Organic claims.

Of course Greengate has many more facts, details, studies, debates, but instead we have decided to allow you exercise your consumer power and draw your own conclusions by bestowing our Guide of top ten of things to help you make more informed choices as a consumer:

1. Research over 37,000 products through the non-profit Environmental Work Group
at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
Or you can also check out these other great sites for more places to do research:
www.smartskincare.com
www.organicconsumers.org
www.cosmeticscop.com

2. An unknown factoid is TV networks keep cosmetic companies honest by holding them legally responsible to substantiate their claims. So you can believe some things you see on t.v!

3. Be responsible by reporting any reactions to skincare or cosmetic products to your local department of consumer affairs or the store you purchased from. In fact if you join Sephora’s beauty insider program every time you make a return they will notate the ingredients listed in the product you are returning and alert you should you try to make a purchase with similar ingredients that may cause you react to a product.

4. Try looking in the ever-growing beauty section of your local bookstores for fun green guides like The Little Green Book of Beauty by Sarah Collard. It contains 250 tips for an Eco Lifestyle.

5. Don’t leave leftover product in your containers. It’s a definite sentence of that bottle or jar hitting the landfill instead of the recycling circuit according to

6. Try to buy products with fewer ingredients. You’re less likely to have a reaction.

7. When it comes to recycled packaging, not everything is really recyclable. For instance using corn as an alternative plastic sounds nice, but there aren’t any facilities to recycle the alternative material. The smartest choice is to buy products featuring the PETA 1, 2, or 3.

8. Even though there is some regulation in the organic food industry don’t take for granted that the line of division will be clearly drawn.

9. Seek out companies that not only want to educate about their products, but also want to educate on skin, sun care, organic, or any other means to help the consumer.
www.sophyto.com is a wonderful company that is trying to do just that.
Other companies are also signing the Compact for Safe Cosmetics which is an agreement companies have signed to replace their hazardous material with safer alternatives within three years. Sadly enough several of the major cosmetic companies have yet to get on board.

10. The greatest power a consumer has is not to buy a product according to Ameena Meer, an ad executive and owner of Take Out Creative Agency of NYC.

We’d like to hear your voice? Is organic important to you?
Should companies be accountable for what they advertise? How far is the first amendment allowed to go? Should consumers continue to have choices or should the FDA tighten up regulations?

THE VALUE OF VITAMINS

2009-12-17T00:26:00.005-05:00

I have this kooky thing I do with my Apple computer where I document my face/aging through the years. I am obsessed with how the face changes.

Today I had a lot of clients and friends say that I was looking really good again. Thanks to an incident earlier in the year I looked like hell up until now. It took seeing these two photos next to each other to really realize it.

It all started this past early summer when I went to go see a doctor on my way out of town for a beauty convention. I had a constant dull pain under my left rib cage. Last thing I wanted to do is hop on a plane and have to deal with an emergency landing because my spleen exploded.

My people were busy, and I was in a rush as usual so I didn't really think twice about trusting what the doctor would do because he was recommended to me. I mean he is a doctor right?

Long story short the doctor injected my muscles with lidocaine because he thought I had a hernia and he ended up paralyzing my entire digestive system. I couldn't keep food down for months and yet I couldn't not eat because that also made me feel even worse. Think about morning sickness times twenty added to dire exhaustion from a prescribed meat and potatoes diet and you might be close to how I felt. (Can't wait to see my dental bill for my teeth!).

The reason I'm posting all of this is that this is pure proof that nutrition is vital.
It had always frustrated me that people never believed me when I would tell them my skin looked as good as it did because of my diet and the supplements I take. Thanks to bioresonance at a place called VitalGate in NY I was able to get back on my supplements after this summer's drama and really learn to take care of me for once.

In the photo on the left (about 1.5 months after the injection) you can see the heavy bags under my eyes, the bloat in my face, and the sag in my skin. (Some of my clients wanted to take me back to the hospital during that time).

In the photo on the right my face is much tighter and my eyes are MUCH brighter. I don't look like a bad walking Lindsay Lohan mug shot anymore!

So next time if someone asks you if you think vitamins and supplements really work think back to these photos! I'll take the girl on the right any day!

Oh.....and thanks to all of the clients who stuck by me this summer. I don't know what I'd do without you all!!!

Cheers to everyone's health in 2010!

xoxo mary schook

p.s. The MS APOTHECARY videos were about two months after the malpractice. Look how heavy my face is!!!!! The poor videographer had to take a break while I was vomiting in between takes!!!!!!!

WINTER RELIEF

2009-11-14T14:44:00.006-05:00

As most of you well know by now Beauty 212 goes around and tests a bunch of products so that you don't have to waste your hard-earned money. Most of the products we go around and buy, but from time-to-time a company like Clinique will send us a product to review. If we like it you'll know about it.

What's funny is Clinique has an interesting bit of timing to their product previews. Last time my lips were pretty chapped and all of the sudden their Superbalm shows up in the mail. This time my cuticles were dry and cracking from all of the manual labor I have to do and behold Deep Comfort shows up at the office!

What's great about this formula is that it doesn't have a scent. Fragrance can rob your skin of moisture and add unnecessary chemicals to the body. What's really amazing about this product is it provides instant moisture relief without any greasiness!!! We tried it on several clients here and they loved it. There were a few clients that we found with severe dry cases. It gave them temporary relief, but wasn't a solution.

I think you'll be happy with this moisture pick. I know we are! This item also make a great travel moisturizer (under 3oz) as well as a stocking stuffer.

SIMPLE BLENDS FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTY

2009-11-05T01:25:00.009-05:00

Looking for some early holiday inspiration or just need a bit of your own inspiration? After mastering her own gorgeous blends of organic essential oils, Hope Gillerman of Gillerman Organics has launched a BRILLIANT photo deck/guide to Essential Oils. Every card has a beautiful photo on the cover and a wealth of ideas on the flip side to literally create your own personal blend of soaps, scrubs, and massage oils. Who needs a spa?

Aromatherapy can be a very powerful tool in regards to your health and beauty. For instance almost everyone knows lavender can be calming, but how do you use it? Where can you use it?

Did you also know essential oils can help heal wounds or aid your digestion? What can essential oils do for scars and stretch marks? Can you overdo essential oils?

Guess you'll have to get the deck to find out!

Check out more information on Hope's site at www.hgillermanorganics.com

FAT ATTACK!

2009-10-02T22:00:00.005-04:00

I first introduced the Zerona® laser to you as a theoretical piece of equipment that was about to hit the market in one of my old posts just as car companies like to introduce concept cars at the car shows.

The Zerona laser is one of the very few ways to actually non-surgically shrink fat cells. Specifically it is a cool laser that painlessly creates an opening in the fat cell causing the contents of the fat cell to melt away.

Since fat is toxin-soluble and the body needs time to process the toxins, treatments are done every other day for a period of two weeks.

When I spoke to the actual manufacturers of the equipment they said that the number of treatments may vary. Men can need only 6-8 treatments whereas we estrogen-laden women might need an extra kick with 8-10 sessions.

The reason I am entering this new post because I finally had the pleasure of interviewing a wonderful doctor and founder of New York City's Better Body Solutions®, Dr. Nick Ungaro who had decided to carry this amazing piece of equipment. Dr. Ungaro has successfully been taking New York City by storm with the Zerona laser which he first introduced within the last 12 months.

The fat cells still exist unlike liposuction so no result is ever permanent should you waver and decide to go for that bucket of chicken or extra slice of cheesecake, but Dr. Ungaro and his team are prepared with programs to help you maintain the average 3-5 inch loss that his clients generally achieve.

I haven't personally tried it YET, but the science and clinical reports are sound.
I can also say that after speaking with Dr. Ungaro he sounds like a real problem-solver. Either way I like to feel a sense of solace knowing there is something out there that can safely AND effectively sculpt the body.

Check out this video from Better Body Solutions and in the meantime I'll see if I can give you a treatment update.

Thanks again for watching!

Mary Schook

MS APOTHECARY FEATURED IN OCT MARIE CLAIRE

2009-09-12T00:38:00.005-04:00

A great BIG THANKS to Courtney and Marie Claire for their very kind feature on MS APOTHECARY seen in this October's issue!

MS APOTHECARY

2009-08-05T22:53:00.010-04:00

It is coming up on almost two years since we started Beauty 212.

I have learned a lot from the public all around the world and you have helped me to challenge the experts we have featured thus far.

It has been brought to my attention by consumers and through the media that people have lost trust in corporations, our national leaders, and so many other things.

I gave this problem some thought, and wondered about what I could do to make a difference and rebuild that trust again.

With that in mind my clients and some of our viewers have asked for us to put together a store that sells some of the products "they just can't believe work" so it can all be in one place...the best of the best.

So I am proud to announce that Beauty 212 will be launching MS APOTHECARY over the next few weeks. We hope to be a beacon in the industry of trust with products that work for everyone. Every product works in theory, but we will soon bring truth to reality. As consumers we all deserve the best. It's a start to help make the world a more trustworthy place.

Don't worry. Beauty 212 will continue to exist.

Thanks for all of your support and help for us to grow.

We look forward to helping you put your best foot forward.

xoxo mary schook

SUSTAINABLE YOUTH

2009-04-14T21:51:00.003-04:00

Nothing gets me more excited than being surprised by a product around the Beauty By Mary Schook testing "lab". A couple of months ago I was sent a cream and serum to test from a company called Sustainable Youth .
What initially drew in my curiosity about this particular product is that it said it was mostly green and clinically effective in anti-aging because of their patented ingredient Alasta ®. We can't count how many times we have tested "green" products only to find them disappointing and cause our client's (or even my own skin) to react.
Another thing that attracted us to this product line is their mantra: beauty starts from the inside out. That is also our philosophy at Beauty By Mary Schook.
In addition the fact that there are only three products is sometimes a good indicator that a consumer will likely end up with more quality, not useless products!
BUT educated deductions never replace testing for us, so our testing began by adding Sustainable Youth's serum and cream to some of the client's treatments.
Immediately from that moment forward we began to receive phone calls and emails from the clients. They were calling to tell us that their skin seemed to "hold their treatments better" and also "appeared more elastic"!
I am still pleased to say that the popularity of Sustainable Youth has continued to increase.
Give the website a quick view to see some of their befores and afters at www.sustainableyouthproducts.com
I believe right now they're even running a recession special. Special or not I can say that the product is well worth the price and opens the eco market up to new hope!

Cheers!
Mary Schook

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!

2009-03-22T17:41:00.006-04:00

Very exciting news! Beauty 212 has entered the new century of technology to bring to you up to the minute expert beauty and product tweets via twitter.

Watch how Beauty 212 transforms in April to bring you beauty like you've never seen before!

Keep coming with those questions!!!!!

xoxo mary schook

SPRING BOHO HITS STORES TODAY!

2009-02-17T01:41:00.004-05:00

Mary Schook, and Boho Magazine, fashion and beauty's first green magazine, have joined forces to shed some light on the booming organic and natural care industry. Boho's spring issue hits newstands Feb17th with cover model and A-list actress turned activist, Neve Campbell. PRESS RELEASE

2009-01-27T00:20:00.008-05:00

If they had to rewrite My Big Fat Greek Wedding Gus, the father would have said
Terrasil Max cured everything instead of windex.
I came across this product as I was researching nano silver products online. It seems that whenever I have a problem the universe will plop the perfect product in front of me.
As part of my new year's resolution I had decided to take up some swimming. I am sad to say that as my new enthusiasm grew for swimming so did a wart between my toes (and a few other fun things! Ouch!). Things were in a tailspin until the Terrasil Max showed up in my mailbox.

The wart calmed in less than a week along with any itching or scaling.

I highly suggest this product! Silver is very anti-bacterial and this product is naturally quite effective.

BEAUTY STARTS FROM WITHIN

2009-01-23T21:22:00.007-05:00

It's 2009! We have a new president. Feels like a good time for a fresh new start right?!

No matter what your beauty regimen is or how old you are beauty has to start from the inside. If your cells are toxic and can't function then how do you expect to fight the aging battle?

Beauty 212 called upon Inna Topiler C.N., H.H.C. from Hoboken, NJ's Complete Nutrition and Wellness to give us some guidelines on how to jumpstart our "inner beauty."

"January is generally a great month to start a cleanse," states Inna. "The holidays are certainly a time to enjoy, but many of us overindulge in food and drink and tend to skip the gym. This leaves us feeling bigger, more fatigued."

What is the best way to go about a cleanse?
Inna writes in her monthly client newsletter:

"For the past 2 years, I have been using the Standard Process 3 week purification cleanse in my practice and getting amazing results. It involves discontinuing fast foods, processed convenience foods, and sugar filled snacks which place an unnecessary load on the body and replacing them with whole, unprocessed, preservative-free foods, like whole grains, fruits, vegetable and lean meats, lots of pure spring water and tasty shakes. Whole food supplements are also used to help your body purify and rebuild itself naturally, from the inside out while supporting all the organ systems involved in detoxification.

Patients have experienced anywhere from 5-15 pounds of weight loss, increased energy, removal of food addictions, clearer thinking, better digestion, less bloating, clearer skin, shinier hair, and improved general health with the disappearance or lessening of past conditions. Because this is a true healthy cleanse and not just a fad diet, it is not very difficult, does not require any fasting and you can go on with your daily routine without any interruptions. And best of all, the above results stay with you after you are done."

Thanks for that great information Inna!

To find out more details about cleansing click HERE

In a future post we will talk about a hair analysis that Inna has done with me that tests the nutrition taking place in my body, and address the things I need to start thinking about.

I think you will find it fascinating!

Thanks for Reading!

Mary Schook

LOVIN' MY LASHES!!!

2009-01-15T14:59:00.005-05:00

Behold......I have FINALLY found the lash formula that is the closest to the original Jan Marini lash formula. It is called NEU LASH.
I had my hesitations that Neu Lash would even work after growing weary from trying over a dozen "lash growth" products advertised on the market. It seemed pointless to test it now that the magic ingredient contained in the original lash growth products was revoked from cosmetic products.....that is until one day metrosexual Santa Monica Bob sent me over a tube and said I HAD to try it.
He said it was so effective on him he had to cut his lashes shorter.

With hesitation I applied the Neu Lash formula at the base of my lashes every night as instructed.
First week. Nothing.
2nd week. Nothing too noticeable.
3rd week. It began to look a little fuller.
4th week. Fullness maintained.
Fast forward to 2.5 months......WOW! My lashes aren't yet up to my brows, but they're considerably longer and fuller. Everyone asks me if I have lash extensions on when I put on my mascara. Yippee!!!!

And by the way if you prefer to pay to see an eye doctor to get a prescription for lash growth.....please be my guest.

TOP 10 BEAUTY PICKS

2009-01-06T23:15:00.004-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR Beauty 212 fans!
I want thank everyone for their loyalty to this blog.
It has given me an opportunity to help so many people of all ages!

Let's get straight to the point. EVERYONE asks me what my top beauty product picks are so I have decided to list my 10 favorite beauty products of '08 and beyond.
I hope you enjoy them as much as my clients and I do!

BELEGENZA ILLUSTRIOUS SHAMPOO

NUDE SKINCARE HYDRATE FOOD SUPPLEMENT SOFTGELS (OMEGA 3,6, AND 9!!)

OLAY MICRODERMABRASION AND PEEL SYSTEM

SIMPLY DIVINE BOTANICALS NATURAL DEODERANT

ILUMINARE COSMETICS ALL DAY EYELINER (ESPRESSO)

PCA VITAMIN C 20%

AROMA SANCTUM PERFUMES

CROWN MAKEUP BRUSH SETS

SELSUN BLUE (FOR ACNE!)

AU COURANT INSTANT SELF TAN

SAY IT WITH SEPHORA!

2008-12-21T22:58:00.007-05:00

http://mistletoemakeover.com/?b9c16035cee46acf5707da4e299ef9f8

Want a fun and beautiful way to tell your friends Happy Holidays?
Sephora's little tech elves were busy finding a way to outdo Office Depot's freaky dancing elves.
Had it not been for one of my colleagues sending this my way I would have missed out on a really fun way of trying some beauty looks and giving some of my friends a good laugh.
God knows right now a lot of people need to be doing a lot of laughing this holiday!

All you have to do is click on the link above to view my holiday card. After it is done playing click on the create your own sign on the lower right side.
There is an easy guide to take you through all of the steps.

I had trouble choosing between the four little makeover options so I decided to post them all up there for you.

I want to also take this time to thank you all this year for your emails and questions even though I had to dedicate my time to my business and Boho magazine. I plan on digging into things more with you guys in the new year!

The most interest seems to be with ACNE so look for more videos and posts on this subject.

In the meantime have a safe and beautiful holiday!

xoxo
Mary Schook

IT'S A GREEN THING: NATURAL vs SYNTHETIC

2008-10-29T00:34:00.010-04:00

So here it is in a nutshell:
Just how far is the 1st amendment (the freedom of speech) allowed to go when it comes to making organic or natural claims on products?

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps is currently suing several offending personal care companies. The lawsuit demands these companies "either drop their organic claims or reformulate away from main ingredients made from conventional agricultural and/or petrochemical material without any certified organic material."
Bronner's thinks the only way to take hold of this unbridled industry is through litigation since the FDA does not regulate products before they enter the market. Controlling first amendment rights may seem unamerican, but at least litigation isn't. (LOL).

As a side note I would like to remind everyone that there are two sides of the coin.
In a free market where women want what genetics can't provide and will pay any price for it.....don't be upset that companies have delivered it. Some of it has been snake oil, but overall they have held up their side of the deal. But warning:results can come at a sacrifice to your health and your skin.

For those that declare you want natural, please remember that this sector of the industry is still in it's infancy! Do your homework! Natural can be irritating to the skin or may be disguised as something else.
The other side of the industry didn't happen overnight, don't expect the natural or organic sector to perform well in the beginning either!

HOLIDAY BOHO IS OUT!

2008-10-26T20:20:00.005-04:00

I don't know what I would do without my loyal Beauty 212 readers and watchers.
Even though you have been slightly neglected over the last couple of months the emails and questions keep coming in.
I've been pouring my time into Boho Magazine lately and still dealing with the reader aftermath from September's Vogue writeup on my anti-aging business here in NYC.
But seriously check out this next issue of Boho. It's the gift-giving guide.
It's a lot of fun and has tons of great gift-giving ideas especially for the greenies out there.
It's carried at Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Whole Foods, internationally through Universal News, and other outlets. You can visit www.bohomag.com for more information or to subscribe.

In the meantime thank you for all of your patience and support!

We'll be hitting you with more good stuff here soon!

xoxo mary schook

ADVANCED EXFOLIATION

2008-10-10T19:43:00.007-04:00

Skin fitness is something that needs to happen year round. Why wait for bathing suit season to get your skin into shape? Cellulite has no season and with over 80% of the female population in panic it's time to take control of the situation.

It is my own professional opinion that the culprit for cellulite is skin fitness. You can do all of the Jane Fonda you want, but the less elastic and more dehydrated the skin is the more likely you are to have cellulite.

What is a good way to get that fitness back?
Exfoliation.

Cells are fed nutrients through your blood. Exfoliating and stimulating the skin brings blood to the surface which allow the cells to turn over faster.

What is a new great way to exfoliate from head to toe?

Le Edge. It looks similar to a squeegie, but is designed with a special stainless steel edge to allow you to glide dead cells away effortlessly.

It's also great for preventing ingrown hairs on the chest for men and bikini area for women!!!!!

VITAMIN BAR

2008-09-23T12:17:00.007-04:00

There are some Scientists and Doctors that believe that the products that we use on our bodies may be the underlying culprit for 90% of the breast cancer and decreased sperm count out there.
More specifically it is said that our skin absorbs the toxins from our skincare products and wraps them into tumors to protect our system from the chemicals since our bodies are not able to process it. This is a very controversial statement however all parties seem to agree that our skin has the ability to absorb what we put on it. It is the body's largest organ.

There is a company called BETHESDA that has come up with a brilliantly natural way for us to absorb over 50 vitamins and minerals AND put on sunscreen at the same time though our shower soap!!!!

I have already tried it and I can say that it has a very fresh sort of subtle lemon grass smell to it and surprisingly there is no film left behind. I was a little concerned about a filmy residue when I first read it had sunscreen in it, but that couldn't be further from the case. It's a very nice clean.

If that's not enough for you Bethesda is giving away a free bar of soap to anyone who is suffering with cancer or knows of someone who has cancer. Please send the name, address and the recipient's condition to store@bethesdaskincare.com, and be sure to reference The Melanie Policy. Because chemotherapy and cancer treatment depletes the skin of it's nutrients and causes it to become fragile, Bethesda Sunscreen Soap was created with a combination of healing and therapeutic properties to strengthen, restore and protect the skin.

This product is a huge winner in my eyes!!!!!

BYE BYE BOO BOO!

2008-09-22T01:56:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I don't realize how much of an occupational hazard it is to be on a photoshoot!
Two weeks ago I had the corner of a 10' piece of plexiglass fly right into my arm. I probably should have gone to the emergency room to get it stitched up, but sometimes I can be very stubborn.
I also knew that I would be hitting the medical tradeshow where last year I discovered a medical line that is amazing at preventing stretch mark scars and other post-operative scars. The line is called Medicalia. Just a little warning: if you have a weak stomach I would try to surf straight to the doctor locater. That is the only way you can get your hot hands on this product.
I already started to use it and the scar is starting to fade.
I will try download a before and after progress photo if I get the chance.
The photos on their site are far more impressive though.
How fresh does the scar have to be? I met a woman at the show that had a surgical scar from childhood. She said that her scar decreased in dimension and color even though it had been over 30 years later. She also
told me that it is easier to treat a scar that is horizontal versus vertical.
Learn something new every day!
By the way the exact name of the product is post-operative care cream.
Try it out!

THE THREADORATOR

2008-09-01T20:50:00.003-04:00

There are several ways of removing hair from the face.
One of the most effective and ancient of hair removal techniques hailing from as far east as India is called threading.

Threading is where a single piece of cotton thread is twisted around each hair in a linear fashion. The technician even holds one end of the string in their own mouth, but the procedure is entirely sanitary.

The art is generally passed down from one generation to the next, but in the western world threading is growing in greater demand because of the precision and speed that threading offers.
Threading can also be done on any skin type or condition since it causes no trauma.

Now there is a system from Sun Maita that brings the expert into your own home. Check out their web to see a more detailed demonstration.

What more do you need to effectively remove all of that peach fuzz!!!

WHITER IMAGE

2008-09-01T17:13:00.003-04:00

We've all seen a lot of teeth whitening products on the market.
Until recently I never drank coffee or wine so it wasn't one of my major concerns.
I tried a few popular and reputable companies on the market and they only left my teeth super sensitive without much of a difference.

Then I ran across a company called Whiter Image that is sister company to the Elementals® program (my weight loss program). Since the weight loss has been so effective I thought I would try looking at the whitening program.

Debbie Spears, one of Whiter Image's representatives, explained to me the difference between their whitening system and other popular ones on the market. What's unique about this particular product is it contains hydrators and accelerators that won't leave your teeth brittle. Whiter Image is a 6% stabilized hydrogen peroxide. Most whiteners on the market use hydrogen peroxide.

Keep in mind if you're seeking hollywood super-white choppers you can only find that with professional orthodontist treatments. If you just want to make your teeth naturally white I would suggest White Expression by Whiter Image.
I'll try to take some before and after photos if I ever come up for air from Boho Magazine!

NON-SURGICAL BOOB JOB®?

2008-08-11T21:07:00.004-04:00

I'm not kidding! You heard me correctly. There is a cream from Rodial that is supposed to increase your cup size by 8.4% within 8 weeks.

How does it work? Boob Job® works with your own fat cells. Every time you eat, Boob Job® "blocks" the fat into the area where the product has been applied leaving you with a plumper neck and decollete.

Boob Job® is derived from an Asian root that has no hormonal activity.
Apply twice daily to ensure fat absorption.

Do I hear any testers out there?

BOHO MAGAZINE LAUNCHES AUGUST 12th!

2008-08-04T22:25:00.002-04:00

Hey there everyone!

For the first time in editorial history a fashion magazine goes entirely green by printing with 100% recycled paper and other renewable ingredients.

Join us for our launch this August 12th on news stands everywhere!
www.bohomag.com for subscriptions.

Thanks for your continued support,

Mary Schook

DESIGNER VITAMINS?

2008-08-03T15:59:00.003-04:00

What will they think of next? Barney's New York is now carrying a beauty line called Nude Skincare that attacks aging from the inside out.
Brilliant!

The supplement HYDRATE has a great balance of omega fatty acids which are essential in cellular regeneration.

If you have a cat or dog you may observe that what you feed them can determine how shiny their coats are.
Why would we be any different?

In addition the age defense supplements are cultured through broad spectrum extraction which means all of the good stuff is isolated and extracted making it 250 times more potent than most herbs and supplements on the market.

Remember that supplements are not regulated by the FDA so consult with you physician before using any supplement.

Finally the packaging is carbon neutral which makes it very eco-friendly.

Great item to put on the wish list!

NON-SURGICAL LIPOLASER!

2008-07-25T15:54:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the future of liposuction. Actually there is no suction. The Erchonia® is the latest non-invasive device to hit the vanity industry. It uses a low level laser that emulsifies fat!

When fat is released it releases toxins so it must be gradually done in about 6 sessions or so. Conventional and surgical lipo automatically sucks all of the toxins out, but who wants the bruises, anesthesia, and all of the pain associated with lipo?

It hasn't reached NY so there is no price as of yet, but you can never put a value on safe, effective procedures!

I just LOVE how the industry is finding success in the non-surgical realm!

We'll keep you posted as to when and where it hits the market!

BANISH BUMPY ARMS

2008-07-20T15:38:00.007-04:00

There's an annoying skin condition that is common with many teenagers and adults. It's called Keratosis Pilaris. It's those hard, rough bumps that tend to be red in coloration found around the back of the arms or on the sides of the legs.
These bumps are a buildup of skin in the pores. If you try to exfoliate it just ends up irritating the skin.
Papaya has a natural enzyme that eats the dead cells from your skin.
Dr. Mark Lees has created a product line especially for those stubborn bumps which uses the papaya. It's called the BUMPY ARM KIT.
I have not tried it personally, but I saw the before and after photos and the science behind it is sound. You can order it at www.marklees.com
I'll let you know if I find a test bunny for it.
It's never too late to have great arms this summer!
***** Just called the company and only the resurfacing body lotion is available to the public. Call 800-447-5770 to find a licensed professional to purchase from in your area. Sorry about that!!!!*****

BATHTIME FUN!

2008-07-07T23:36:00.007-04:00

Since time of America's colonizing days, the British have found more than tea for us to soak in warm water! Bomb Cosmetics:
I tried their Bath Blasters which are all made by hand in a factory in Bournemouth, Dorset. They use simple ingredients and only the finest essential oils. Bath Blasters set naturally over a period of time rather than being stamped out on a machine.

How do they work? Bath Blasters are dropped into warm water where it will fizz vigorously releasing perfume into your bathroom and essential oils into the bath water.

The oils are light so they don't leave a nasty ring around the tub and they make a very cute gift as many of them look like mini icecreams or delectable desserts that leave your body silky, not greasy.

They make beautiful unique gifts for that hard to gift person.

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

2008-07-06T23:20:00.010-04:00

Ever just want to quickly get your hair out of the way while applying your makeup or washing your face, but was afraid of ruining your hair?

In Las Vegas I was introduced to the Tassi! It's like a shower bonnet only made out of a comfortable stretch terry cloth so it won't crimp or mess your hair. It's great for holding up curls especially if you're not ready to go out!

The patented Tassi goes on in three easy steps and gently lifts and holds your hair. Unlike headbands, clips or turbans, the Tassi does not flatten, twist or mess up your “do.”

The Tassi is available in 12 colors, including white, soft pink, hot pink, chocolate brown, lavender, powder blue, lime green, tan, tangerine, turquoise, chili pepper red and black.

Nothing like modern innovation on the old shower bonnet!

FUNKY FEET

2008-07-06T22:36:00.008-04:00

Feet are never a popular discussion in any realm unless you have a strange fetish, but foot health is very important and now that it's summer it's socially important to have great feet!
There's a company called Footlogix out of Canada that has effectively cracked the code in regards to cracked feet! Once only a line sold to foot care professionals can now be found on HSN for $24.95. They carry the Footlogix Rough Skin Formula Anti-Fungal Mousse. The lightweight, non-greasy formula helps relieve itching, scaling, cracking, burning, redness and irritations associated with athlete's foot and ringworm. This company far surpasses any competition in the market.
Should you need a little more intensive care from a professional you can always contact Footlogix at info@footlogix.com.

DISCONTINUED COLORS? NO PROBLEM!

2008-06-22T15:20:00.004-04:00

Ever had a lip color that was discontinued?
Saving that last sad little stump of lipstick for a rainy day?
Ever wonder if you could duplicate that lip color that J Lo was wearing on the red carpet?

Wonder no more with 3C to the rescue! Three Custom Colorists takes your discontinued lip, cheek, brow, lip pencil, shadow, nail polish, and concealer colors and recreates them just for you. They'll even customize a color for you should your creative juices get flowing.

Visit their site at http://threecustom.com/home.php?cat=253 to find out more about this marvelous service!

BIG NEWS!

2008-06-17T23:20:00.002-04:00

Hello Everyone,

Sorry if you've felt neglected lately.
I was just hired on as beauty editor for a new magazine coming out here in the US this August.
It's called BOHO, short for bohemian.

It's a bit like Instyle magazine, but it's really it's own new concept in American magazines.

It's about the girl who wants to do something for herself and the planet, but still likes to wear her Manolos.

That being said I am under some insane deadlines so there will NOT be a show this week unless there are miraculously 40 hours in a day instead of 24 hours.

Thanks again for all of your support and patience and keep watching and writing!

xo mary schook

SEALED WITH A KISS

2008-06-02T13:55:00.004-04:00

The weather in New York has been very manic this year! One minute it's freezing and the next it's 80 degrees. The other day my lips were so dry. Then all of the sudden this Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss tester arrived. Just when I thought their moisture surge face cream was going to be their big star product of the season....I think Clinique is trying to make me fall in love with them this year. They've been the dark horse of the cosmetic industry.
I'm not a big lip gloss person for the sake of gloss, but this product couldn't have had better timing! It's glossy without being sticky and really gives you moisture instead of taking it away like most lip products end up doing.
The colors are also really natural looking. The gloss and color enhance the lips making them look fuller. The color I'm addicted to is the #15 cocoa.
The Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss is just a good staple you won't want to leave home without.

DOCTOR-FORMULATED NAIL POLISH?

2008-05-30T12:18:00.003-04:00

We haven't reviewed it yet, but I figured it would be nice to feature a product that is trying to make a difference when it comes to our health and wellness. It's called Dr.'s Remedy® Enriched Nail Polish.
It's formulated by two doctors that wanted to create a toxin-free polish without sacrificing effectiveness, quality, or beauty. What's also lovely is not the formaldehyde they've taken out of the polish, but the vitamins C, E, Tea Tree Oil, and other goodies they have put into it.
It's carried in Doctor's offices, online, or in the Bliss Catalogs.
We'll be back soon with a review of the product, but from what I've already heard it's getting rave reviews!

EPISODE TWO- REVERSING GRAY HAIR HAS LAUNCHED!

2008-05-29T04:54:00.004-04:00

Hello fellow Beauty 212 fans!
Just as promised and on schedule.
I am very excited to share this ground-breaking product from Joico/Shiseido.
It is supposed to not only prevent, but even reverse gray hair.
Check out www.Joico.com to find out more information.
Let me know what you think!

xo mary schook

THE REAL BOTOX® IN A BOTTLE?

2008-05-28T14:54:00.009-04:00

Yes!, you heard me correctly. There is a company that has finally produced a serum that can reduce facial expression lines in the matter of five minutes. Secretly I have had celebs go on the red carpet with this stuff not knowing the amazing results it would produce. Not only were they dying to get their hands on some of the ADVANCED formula afterwards, but their friends were asking them about which procedure they were doing.
You just pump out a generous amount and massage it into lip, mouth, forehead, or eye lines.
Then watch the lines disappear in 5 minutes! It generally lasts 12-18 hours, but the effects are cumulative.
Go to L'image's site for more photos and information!
Stay tuned. I'll have an interview with one of the doctors/ creators of the product as well as a demonstration with the Beau Visage, a medical photographic system that accurately depicts the topography of the skin both above and below!
Remember, you heard it here first!

LIFT MORE THAN YOUR SPIRITS THIS SUMMER!

2008-05-26T21:16:00.006-04:00

Ladies we all know as bathing suit season descends upon us we tend to get a little down. There's a company called Bring It Up that wants to change that.

Bring It Up® offers instant breast, face, and chest lifts through their unique taping method. What's innovative about this company is they finally have something for the deep railroad track creases in the chest that women get when they sleep on their sides.

I think the Mississippi Delta has fewer rivers converging than the lines I have on my chest. For those of you that have had sun damage those creases can tend to look even more noticeable.

What I personally like about these products is that it gives an alternative to those not ready or willing to go under the knife. They have before and after photos of all the products online as well as better descriptions.

Someone get a hold of Maya Angelou. I can't tell you how many times I've heard her talk about her saggy bosom on Oprah!

ARE YOU A STRAIGHT OR A CURVY CHICK?

2008-05-25T16:48:00.006-04:00

With humidity well upon it's way (maybe not in NYC) why not be prepared with styling tools that create an effect that only top stylists can achieve. R SESSION Tools has created the Nalu Waver and Root Control irons.
I personally have a lot of clients that had opted for the Japanese Straightening, BUT it's not quite that time to get their roots touched up and they are fretting the kinky roots that will reveal a less than perfect coif!
Now with the Root Control irons they can effectively comb out the frizz.
On the other end I have clients whose hair goes completely limp in the summer. Now they can give their hair lustrous wave like the Hollywood celebs with the Nalu Waver Iron. These irons are good for all hair types. Isn't life just better when it's simple like this?

BE SUN SAAVY!

2008-05-25T15:49:00.009-04:00

I know that asking you to apply sunscreen every hour in order to protect your skin is a tall order, however I think I may have discovered something a lot easier and even more beneficial this summer! Now instead of blocking the sun, you can use it to your advantage.
Give yourself an anti-aging or therapeutic treatment!!!!
Sun:Soul, a company out of Canada has developed a UV-blocking line of hats and and clothing gear that allows you to use the sun to your benefit instead of resisting it!
In Spas yellow light is known for it's anti-aging benefits and blue light is know for it's anti-bacterial/ anti-acne benefits.
This line of gear is good for either one season or 30 washes.
Look out for the red line to surface soon. Red light has also been associated with anti-aging and hair rejuvenation!
That's a good thing to hear. My entire family of men are growing bald on top and I'm sick of hearing about it!

HAPPY HAIR

2008-05-25T13:54:00.007-04:00

Every day our hair and skin are under assault with a battery of chemicals and free radicals that pollute our system.
No one seems to know that more than Alan G. Eschenburg, founder of Belegenza Extraordinary Hair Care. When I first met Alan I thought here's another line jumping on the green wagon.
Could a natural, food-grade product actually perform?
I decided to test drive the Illustrious Shampoo and Romance Deep Conditioning Treatment. After just one use my hair seemed more alive and fuller, but every time I switch shampoos I always get a decent effect.
After a month of using just those two products I can confidently say that my hair has never been better! My hair doesn't feel stripped or dry from the shampoo, and the conditioner never leaves my hair heavy or feeling coated.
What's even better is since this product is the only one on the market that is silicone-free many of their customers are experiencing renewed hair growth because the follicles are not being plugged up by chemical deposits.
To find out more about this product and Belegenza's philosophies CLICK HERE.

YouTube Show to Launch May 22nd!!!!!

2008-05-12T15:36:00.005-04:00

Hello Everyone!!!!
Thanks for all of your patience.
We have got a lot in store for you just in time for summer.
As of May 22nd we are launching one episode a week on YouTube.

Every thursday night there will be a new release on anything from weightloss, product reviews, grey hair, anti-aging......you name it we're going there.

And make sure you subscribe on YouTube so you don't miss any episodes.

Each piece will be one to two minutes.

The more subscribers we get the more minutes you get each week.

Let us know if you have any requests or questions at mybeauty212@yahoo.com

Enjoy the show!

xoxo Mary Schook

BRITTISH INVASION!

2008-05-10T14:38:00.008-04:00

Every 13 seconds a burglary occurs in the United States.
Every 13 seconds a Microsoft Xbox 360 Sells on eBay.
Every 13 seconds a tube of Boots No7 Restore and Renew Beauty Serum flies off the shelf!

Sales increased 2000% in 2007 after the BBC featured proven independent research (at the University of Manchester) which stated Restore & Renew Beauty Serum is the ONLY SOLUTION that reverses sun damage and wrinkle depth.

Now Boots, the famous Brittish drugstore chain is upping it's versatility by launching Boots No7 Protect and Perfect Body Serum.

If you're lucky you can locate this new find at Target stores nationwide.

PRODUCT PICK OF THE WEEK

2008-05-07T22:55:00.006-04:00

Clinique has always been a reliable skin care company since the 1960's. I watched my mother religiously use her facial bar for her acne on her face and back that came in a green case . There weren't a lot of options back then.
In fact Clinique was the first dermatologist-created, prestige cosmetic brand.

I am now pleased to present a gorgeous hydrating cream from Clinique called MOISTURE SURGE EXTENDED THIRST RELIEF. It effectively helps to bring and maintain moisture in the skin for up to 12 hours. It has a delivery system that carries the lightweight gel consisting of hyaluronic acid (hydration) and other yummy essentials deep down into the layers where you really need it. No gooey, greasey, or oily residue. Fantastic for just about every skin type.

Best of all it is PARABEN-FREE and you're sure not to break the bank on this one.

Just about everyone I've worked on is dehydrated, and Clinique's 12 hour Moisture Surge Extended thirst relief is a great way to perk up the skin just in time for summer.

This product is sure to be a cult classic.

Way to go Clinique!

Watch for the product to launch this May.

Want to know more about creams and products?

Stay tuned.

We're going to get some experts to tell us what you should expect in a face cream.

Mary Schook

JAPAN BRINGS "WORLD'S BEST CLEANSER"

2008-05-01T13:54:00.006-04:00

Straight from Japan comes amazing new technology. The face/body soap called CYCLIC is nano technology that contains colloidal silver. Nano means that the ingredients are small enough to penetrate the cell.It is very effective at penetrating deep down into the pores where bacteria flourish and cause major breakouts.

Colloidal silver is anti-bacterial. The silver kills the largest spectrum of bacteria.
Silver is also very deoderizing.

Cyclic is not irritating to the skin unlike other cleansers because it mimics the pH found on your skin. Just follow the instructions and check out their site for more information.

Feel and see the difference!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

2008-05-01T13:46:00.005-04:00

"BONES ARE FOR DOGS, MEAT IS FOR MEN."

That hilarious quote came from a French New York City cab driver in reference to my "voluptuous" physique.

This quote segways us into a new diet revolution I will be introducing shortly.

Stay tuned!

Mary Schook

GREY BE GONE!

2008-04-30T21:11:00.009-04:00

What you are about to read is revolutionary to the haircare and consumer industry.

You now have the power to prevent, reduce, and even eliminate grey hair!!!!!

Joico company has just introduced a product on the market called Re:nu AGE DEFY.

With this professional treatment system comprised of a potent blend of precious orchid extract, rare acai oil, and exquisite cashmere proteins, Age Defy gives you the ability to restore the pigment, texture, and density of yesteryear back to your hair.

There's even a preventative scalp treatment serum that is scientifically proven to slow down the graying process and create soft, radiant youthful hair.

Check here for a Joico salon near you.

Mothers you can no longer blame your grey hair on your kids.

And just remember you heard it here first at Beauty 212!

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE OF BEAUTY!

2008-04-29T23:36:00.006-04:00

Hey there Beauty 212 Viewers!

I can't wait to tell you about what I have in store for you over the next several weeks. We just filmed several companies and cutting edge products that you just can't miss. We're talking about everything from stem cells to sprayable homeopathic elixirs.

What does this all have to do with beauty? Well my dears it all starts from the inside even though a lot of the damage we do is on the outside. In fact cancer researcher Denie Hiestand says that there are proven studies that show that 90% of all breast cancer is a result of putting toxic creams on our faces.

Want to know more?

Stay tuned right here.

Mary Schook

HOMEOPATHIC HELP!

2008-04-25T18:24:00.008-04:00

Ask any nutritionist and they will tell you vitamins are absorbed best by the body in liquid form. Sprayology®, a company started by homeopaths decided to make the world a little healthier with their airline-friendly line of liquid vitamins. In just a matter of a spray you can combat over 25 problems such as insomnia, jet lag, stress, food cravings and so many others. I think the 26th product should be called world peace.

Seriously the ingredients are 100% natural and effective, vegan, and FDA approved.

I just can't wait to try their AllergEase formula on my lash clients that are suffering from seasonal eye allergies right now!!!!

By the way the chic New York Hotel Gansevoort in the heart of the meat packing district is offering Sprayology® in their minibars. There are even hotels using the SleepEase to put on pillows for turndown service instead of chocolates. How genious!

FYI..... we'll be following up with Sprayology® with a video interview over the next several weeks.

See you soon!

Mary Schook

NAIL COLOR ON THE RUN

2008-04-20T14:53:00.005-04:00

Sally Hansen is giving nail help in just a matter of a click. The nail color pen called Color Quick is just plain smart. It travels well, there's no glass involved and it's great for last minute retouches before weddings or if you don't have time to fix your mani/ pedi.

I've tried the Clear Opal Frost and the Sheer Opal Creme. I wouldn't use it for daily polish wear since the polish dies so quickly, but it sure helps me out in a jam if my nails are less than perfect.

C-STRENGTH

2008-04-16T16:34:00.011-04:00

With so many vitamin c products on the market it is really easy to get confused.

Vitamin C is a great anti-oxidant which is cancer-preventing as well as a wonderful skin brightener among many things. It's especially good at hyperpigmentation.

Too many vitamin C skincare products lose their potency once they are opened which means that there are a lot of serums and creams that aren't effective or contain a lot of preservatives.

Vitamin E stabilizes vitamin C.

C-Strength is fantastic serum my clients swear by from a line called PCA. It comes in 15% and 20% strengths.

You can pick it up at www.skinstore.com

Lighter, brighter, younger.....that's what we all want right?

DANGEROUS BEAUTY

2008-04-16T13:43:00.007-04:00

CNN just did a report that I thought you would all find amusing.

In Russia inmates filled with murderers, thieves, and other upstanding women that only a business man like Donald Trump would love hold an annual beauty contest. The prize is not parole, but warm blankets, chocolate and tea.

I've finally discovered what would get Miss USA's ratings up!

This just goes to show that beauty has no boundaries!

Click HERE for beauty contest.

FACE ZONE

2008-04-02T22:21:00.005-04:00

One of my clients just emailed me about a skin problem she was having on her face.

It reminded me of the time I went to go and get my face "mapped" by a dermatologist from Dermalogica. I had complained about some bumps under my eyes I could feel, but I couldn't see. It drove me crazy.

She asked if I had any surgery recently. She said the bumps had something to do with anesthesia in my liver. I thought she was either right or just psychic! I had a major surgery just a month prior.

To this day Dermalogica is one of the few brands my skin doesn't react to.
You should check out their face mapping system and see what your skin might be saying about you!!!

The link is face mapping.

Let me know if it tells you anything.

ASIAN SECRET FOR LADIES ONLY

2008-03-30T22:46:00.009-04:00

I am sad to say that my mother along with most of the women of her generation made me believe that shaving the hair on my face was going to make me grow in a beard.

For most of my life I had a little too much hair in what would be considered to be the side burn area of my face, and I was really getting tired of bleaching my "mustache"!

It wasn't until I started doing fashion shoots and close-up beauty ads that I found out that SHAVING YOUR HAIR ON YOUR FACE WOULD NOT MAKE THE HAIR GROW IN DARKER, LONGER, OR THICKER!!!!! (Yes, even supermodels can get a little fuzzy).

In fact when I started to research the subject on the internet I found out that there was no proof that shaving facial hair would do anything to my face.

You can't affect how hair is going to grow from on top of the skin.

The reason I am bringing this up is I recently had a client come in with a similar problem. I introduced her to the lovely brow shaver. It is a pen-sized shaver that is usually used to shave brow hair, but it works fantastic on the rest of the face as well. The hair grows back in soft since the blade is so ultra fine. It also exfoliates any dead cells from my skin which prevents me from breaking out so often.
That is a secret of why many asians have such gorgeous skin.

You can usually buy them in a three pack at any beauty or drug store for about $5. Just make sure you don't wear down the blade.

If you have any tricks you would like to share please let us know......

Mary Schook signing out.

SUPERMODEL BEAUTY SECRET!

2008-03-24T20:14:00.007-04:00

Just in case you didn't get enough egg decoration in this Easter week I thought I might give you one more way to enlist those extra eggs!

There is a little skin regimen I learned a while back that some of the Russian supermodels do to give themselves calm, clear skin: egg masks. Some even cover their entire bodies!!!

Giving yourself an egg mask at home is a quick way to calm down acne. Wikihow is a link that has great instructions on what to do. There is one thing that acne does not like and that is sulphur.

SERIOUS BEAUTY

2008-03-17T21:55:00.006-04:00

Hello there fellow Beauty212ers.
Our hair expert Kimarie from Image by Kimarie in Santa Monica suggests to use a product called Thymuskin to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy.
I have not personally tried this product, but over the course of six years I have witnessed Kimarie and her work with all kinds of hair clients. You can see her hair loss work here.
Let me know if any of you have ever tried this product for normal hair loss.
Thanks for staying tuned -Mary Schook

EVERYONE'S GOING GREEN!!!!!

2008-03-14T20:56:00.006-04:00

According to CPCP magazine New York Perfumer Bond No. 9 New York is accepting perfume bottles from ANY brand and recycling them. All you have to do is bring them to one of the following stores:

What do they do with the bottles? According to CPCP magazine the bottles are all returned to their NYC headquarters where EVERY piece is recycled. The clear glass is reused to create more glass products, plastics are ground up to make track surfaces or alternative flooring, and metal is pulverized or burned to be reused for other metal products.
The company hopes to become a business model for other companies.

So what are you waiting on? Get rid of those old bottles!

Yeah for Bond No. 9 New York!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

2008-03-12T19:12:00.004-04:00

DOES MY TAMPON MAKE ME LOOK FAT? -JOAN RIVERS

FLAWLESS MATTE SKIN

2008-03-11T00:02:00.011-04:00

For the longest time now anyone who knows me and my work has seen me use Illuminare foundation! You can even google my name and Illuminare comes up.

While working on the latest BRAVO series Make Me A Supermodel with Make Up For Ever, I got a chance to preview the new, exciting products about to come out.

For those of you who don't know Make Up For Ever, it is a line born many years ago in France originally for the makeup professional. It has truly been a trade secret and favorite among top makeup artists until recently where it has been gaining momentum in Sephora overnight!

What's even more wonderful about this company is they don't just come out with a product every season to just come out with a product. That's why I thought it might be a good idea to take a closer look at Make Up For Ever's new High Definition Foundation and ULTRA fine High Def powder.

The two products are truly FANTASTIC!
For people that produce a lot of oil it is a wonderful mattifier, and if you want to refresh your makeup through the day all you have to do is mist some water over it.

IT DOESN'T MOVE!

So for the clients who want to stay dewy with full-spectrum protection, I go for Illuminare and for the clients that want to be a bit more matte I say look no further than Make Up For Ever's Hi Def products that should be out any day now!!!

A BEAUTY TRIFECTA!

2008-03-10T23:05:00.011-04:00

FASHION AND BEAUTY UNITE TOGETHER THIS SPRING FOR A GOOD CAUSE!

Biolage partnered with top accessory designer Hollywould to create a limited edition white patent leather weekender for jet-setting celebrities during the busy awards season to help them tote their statuettes and stilettos home in style.

For the first time ever, a select number of bags will be available for purchase online at www.pedaids.org/shop so we mere mortals can get our hands on spring’s must-have carry-on bag ($300), as well as Biolage’s new Professional Styling Collection before it launches in salons this spring.

What I love is that 100% of all proceeds from all bag sales go to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to help prevent pediatric HIV infection and eradicate pediatric AIDS. Yeah!

The NEW Biolage products included (again not available until May in salons) are the Molding Souffle, Volumizing Whipped Mousse, Sculpting Jelly, Shine Endure Spritz, and Freeze Fix Hairspray. They contain new technology that will strengthen and rebuild hair.

I got a chance to use the Mousse which comes out of an entertaining cannister like whipped cream. It gave my 26+ inch hair more body, and I was impressed with the fact that it gave me shine which most other mousses do quite the opposite. In fact mousses usually dry my hair out.

So you can either wait until May to find out more about these products or you can give to a good cause and everyone wins!

I won't tell Uncle Sam!

SELSUN BLUE THE NEW PROACTIV?

2008-03-07T15:39:00.007-05:00

There is an underground cult of straight men that know more about beauty than women. Years ago my own brother had a case of traumatizing face acne. One day he decided to shower with Selsun Blue. Magically it had disappeared over a short period of time.

A few weeks ago one of my clients came to me about her friend's acne problem on his back. She said that he had been to all kinds of doctors and specialists with no success. She asked if I would be able to help out. I told her that he should try the Selsun blue first and let me know what happens. In about a week it was cleared. She said that the only side effect he had now was dry skin and some of the scarring.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen this help others.
The selenium sulfide is the active ingredient, but make sure you follow the instructions. In all instances the users used it as shampoo not as a body wash. Just allow the suds to run down the body.

Let me know what you think!!

CELLULITE 101

2008-03-02T17:14:00.007-05:00

The greatest concern that most viewers have is CELLULITE! I never knew so many people are consumed by this issue.

I can't tell you how many photo shoots or catwalks I've seen filled with young models with less than smooth thighs. I can tell you this is certainly not about a weight problem!!!! Cellulite is a condition that plagues about 90% of post adolescent women, and it all begins with the skin!

Once again one of the best beauty treatment trends tends to come from the asians. There is a treatment they do called brushing. Brushing is a technique where you take a body brush and exfoliate the skin with light pressure. Circulation is increased and in turn stimulates the cells. Cells are what make up your skin. When cells get oxygen and nutrients (which is transported by your blood), it allows the cells to continue to reproduce efficiently.

Simply put the younger you make your skin, the tighter it becomes.

How do you brush?

First of all you can go to Target and pick a brush up for about $3.00!

Thighs: Take a firm bristled body brush and begin brushing in an upwards direction moving away from the feet.
It is important to do this so that any "cellular waste" can move towards the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is our garbage disposal. When you eat you go to the toilet. Ours cells do that on a microscopic level every second.

This may be too simply put for everyone, but I will try to get a video out on this very soon. I feel that way we can explain it a bit better visually.

You could also always pay a visit to your city's local Korea town spas. Brushing is one of their specialties.

Brushing also has another benefit; it helps to inhibit the amount of ingrown hairs from shaving, etc by removing the excess skin and allowing the follicle a clean exit away from the body.

The important thing is to remember the following tips:
Eat a healthy diet with plenty of good nutrition.
Drink approximately 2 liters of clean, natural water a day.
Brush skin on a regular basis to get the circulation going.
Keep active and make sure to stretch.
Keep skin well moisturized with a product like Olay Quench or pure Shea Butter with Jojoba

If you follow these steps you're sure to see some improvement in your skin in about 4 weeks!

WINTER GLOW?

2008-02-28T10:56:00.009-05:00

Is winter's cold erratic weather starting to take it's toll and make your mind wander to warmer climates?
There's nothing like an instant tan to warm up one's look and give a bit of a healthy glow. I have used more than my fair share of sunless tanners and stains in my day. Most photo shoots for the spring and summer take place in the winter in a photo studio. Which tanner is the most natural? It is one from a company called Au Courant.

http://www.aucourant.com/

My favorite formula is the Sunless Spray Tan. It seems to have more of an olive hue to it than the other formulas do, but they just came out with a Platinum line so that may have changed.
Their website says the Mousse is their top seller.

THE POSITIVES
-No rancid smell from the developer.
-Natural looking colors for even the palest skin.
-Non-comedogenic so it doesn't break out the face.
-Variety of formulas for different skin types and effects.
-Contains Aloe so you won't have to worry about dry patches looking darker than other areas.
-There's no alcohol so it won't dry out your skin like other companies.
-Has a long shelf life! I hate it when my tanners go bad in less than a month after opening them.

TAN TIPS
-The key to a natural tan is to exfoliate well especially around the knees and elbows.
-Use non-latex gloves to spread over the body.
-Make sure the formula is dry before dressing.

Happy Tanning!
Mary Schook

5-STAR LIPGLOSS! *****

2008-02-15T17:45:00.003-05:00

For YEARS I have been searching for a gloss that was not only good for my cover shoots, but one I could personally wear and not throw into a drawer after a week.

It had to have good pigment, but not look like a lipstick. I hated the stickiness of MAC's Lipglass, but loved the effect. In the end half of the glosses I ever wore would end up in my hair anyway.

During my last trip to the drugstore the new packaging and wand tip from L'oreal's new Infallible Lipgloss caught my gaze. They claimed 6 hour wear. I loved the colors and finishes I saw, but was hesitant to buy this $12 gloss. The thought of wasting money on another dry, long-wearing lip product just sat wrong with me.

I decided to go for the safe mauve color called "Undeniable Mauve" #515. The minute I got to a mirror I applied it to my dry lips and was instantly moisturized. It wasn't sticky when I pursed my lips. The color was just perfect for my complexion. Then EVERYONE else commented on how much fresher and brighter I looked. I sure wish I had found this before my last appearance on BRAVO!

Does it last the 6 hours? I'm not the best judge of that, but for a gloss or even a lipstick it definitely has some staying-power.

Not since the Hydra-Perfect Foundation have I been this excited about a L'oreal product.

Great job there L'oreal!

INTERMISSION

2008-02-03T14:43:00.000-05:00

Hey there Beauty 212 subscribers. It's been a hectic new year. I had to take a hiatus to work for another network for the month of January.
The point is we're back! Slowly, but we're back.
Thank you for your patience!

xo Mary Schook

Happy New Year!!!!!!

2007-12-30T21:46:00.001-05:00

Hey there viewers,
It's the cusp of 2008!
Here are a few words of wisdom as you may or may not decide to make those resolutions.

Resolution #1: I will look younger this year.
There is no miracle in a jar. I hate to be so blunt, but sometimes we forget that it's about what we put in our bodies that affects how we look on the outside more than what we put on it.
Here are the top 5 simple rules to help slow down the aging process:
1.Get plenty of R&R and try to curb the stress where you can.
2.Drink lots of water.
3.Cut down on the alcohol and caffeine.
4.Exfoliate and moisturize.
5.Cut out the sugar!!!!!

Resolution #2: I will look my best in a bathing suit this year.
Now is definitely a great time to make sure that you hit the gym. Any new fat that you put on over the holidays is still new fat. New fat is easier to get rid of than old fat. Don't let that new fat turn into old fat.

Let me also give you a little perspective. If you drink one can of soda every day that is approximately 150 extra calories a day that your body is taking in.
That adds up to 15.6 potential extra pounds you are putting on your body each year.
You're also feeding your body distilled water with carbon dioxide and corn syrup.
There's not one useful thing about that equation. Don't even get me started on diet sodas. The artificial sweeteners used in the sodas have been known to fool the body into thinking it has taken in sugar. When the body goes to process the "sugar" it finds nothing there to burn. Then the body becomes even hungrier thus making you eat way more in the end than you would have to begin with.

I hope that these tips have given you a perspective on your choices for the year to come.If you have any tips or thoughts you would like to add please comment below.

Everyone have a safe and Happy New Year!!!!

xoxo Mary Schook

2007 Chocolate Show Preview

2007-12-23T02:18:00.000-05:00

Hey there Beauty 212 viewers.
We have a first look of the preview of New York's 2007 chocolate show.
We'll be working on the youtube visuals very shortly.

Happy Holidays!!!!!

xoxo Mary Schook

PRODUCT PICK OF THE WEEK

2007-12-10T22:56:00.001-05:00

Now that the nasty cold, dry weather has set in everyone here in New York seems to be getting the holiday skin blues. I've even seen a bit more of the Botox® going around lately as easily as if clients were toasting cocktails.
With so many holiday parties going on how do we set our best foot forward and hope that our faces don't look so wrinkly or dull next to the glow of the holiday lights?
That is why the Olay Microdermabrasion and Peel system is my product pick of the week. I have to admit that I myself was once guilty of thinking drugstore brands were inferior, but Olay seems to be the dark horse of the anti-aging product race.
Just the other day one of my clients came in complaining about how her face seemed more wrinkly than usual. I took out this very product and used it as directed. When I put the mirror up to her face she felt both embarrassed for not having trusted me and relieved that she could do something at home.
The ONLY reason I even got turned on to this product to begin with is a few years back I got hired to do the makeup for the Olay commercial for this very product. We began the first scene of the commercial with the model's face in full makeup. Given that she was no spring chicken I had to craftfully apply the makeup so it didn't look too apparent for her close-up.
Then we got to the second scene where she was in the bathroom applying the product and rinsing it.
I was shocked to see how nice her skin looked after that! I was even more upset that I had to work so hard to camouflage her imperfections when all I had to do was exfoliate the dead skin from her face.
That ladies (and gents) is why even though this is an old product, it's still effective and my product pick of the week!
How's that for anti-aging on a budget!

Speak to you soon,
Mary Schook

GIVE TWICE THIS SEASON!!!!

2007-12-06T21:38:00.000-05:00

The makeup brand CARGO is donating 100% of all proceeds to St. Jude's Research Hospital from the sale of their Glossy Greeting Cards!!!!!
They're 5 lipgloss encased greeting cards for 10 dollars. Top that one Hallmark!
Check out this Sephora link to order your cards today!

BEAUTY 212 TEASER LAUNCHES ON YouTUBE!

2007-11-30T01:44:00.000-05:00

If you didn't already know you do now.
We launched our first "commercial" on YouTUBE for our upcoming show Beauty212 in lieu of our waterproof mascara report.
(It's coming I promise)!
Let us know what you think.

Thanks for watching!

Mary Schook

CELEBRITY SURGERY

2007-11-30T01:26:00.002-05:00

After the recent death of Kanye West's mother thoughts about surgery have really surfaced in the press.

What's a little concerning is anti-aging has been getting a lot more experimental lately. Many patients around the world are willing to sacrifice themselves as human lab rats.

Liposuction scores as the top surgical procedure. Botox® is the top non-surgical procedure for both men and women.

If Elvis Presley was still alive (yes I know some of you out there think he's still alive but that's not the point here) do you think that he would choose to undergo plastic surgery?

Do you think more or less of the celebrities that inundate our media after their plastic surgery or do you respect those who go the more natural route?

Where do you stand on plastic surgery?

We'd love to hear from you.

MASCARA TEST ANSWERS COMING!

2007-11-30T01:12:00.000-05:00

Any day now we will have those waterproof mascara reports for you.
I have to say I was quite surprised at the final results...........

Winter Skin Blues

2007-11-26T22:27:00.000-05:00

Please remember to hydrate!
That's what I am constantly preaching to my clients.
I think some of them do listen.
Now that winter has finally approached us (at least this week in NY) everyone is really concerned about staying one step ahead of a Brillo pad and ever closer to a Jergens commercial.

You may be surprised to find that once again what we put inside our bodies is usually more important that what we put on our bodies.

I had to pull our nutrition expert Dina Khader for ANOTHER question from Claire. Claire seemed to be full of interesting questions for our show (thank you Claire).

QUESTION: What about Hydration? I drink water all day long and my skin is still dry. What is happening?
- Claire

ANSWER: If drinking a lot of water isn't helping skin dryness, then make sure you are consuming sufficient amounts of olive oil and raw nuts. Medically, it can indicate a thyroid disorder. Optimal thyroid test results for TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is between 1 - 2. If your TSH is above 2 you already have a thyroid issue based on more recent research. Lab reference ranges are too broad and will be changing at some point.

-Dina Khader
www.DinaKhader.com

Think about your pets.... if their coats are dull and dry they may not be getting enough nutrients or oils in their diet. Another thing to think about is cleanser. The harsher the soap, the drier the skin. It throws your skin's PH balance off.

But I will leave that subject matter to the experts as usual.

Thanks for watching and reading,

Mary Schook

Turkey Time Taking It's Toll

2007-11-26T22:16:00.000-05:00

Hey there Viewers,
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday.
I tried very hard not to become a statistic this Thanksgiving.
They say the average adult will consume 5000 calories during ONE Thanksgiving meal. That's just short of two pounds.
I'm from the south and that's really not hard to do.

So I called in the Nutritionist expert Dina Khader to answer a question about Toxins and Fat.

QUESTION: Does fat in your body have toxins in it?

-Clara

ANSWER: Yes, body fat does store toxins. This is because toxins are usually
fat-soluble. This is why it is important to work at keeping our body fat
for women around 25% and men under 20%.

-Dina Khader
www.dinakhader.com

EXTREME Beauty

2007-11-17T10:23:00.000-05:00

http://www.rootfilm.com/dollface.htm

Reflecting on my practice at Beauty By Mary Schook I thought that this video clearly demonstrates the psychology of media and the extreme measures we take as a society.
There are no words to describe what this video from Root Films already does.
My hat off to those guys.

New York's Chocolate Show!

2007-11-14T22:30:00.000-05:00

WHITE CHOCOLATE OUTFIT FROM NEW YORK'S 2007 CHOCOLATE SHOW!

This past week the Big Apple was dipped in Chocolate.
Restaurants added special chocolate dishes and desserts to their menus to
commemorate such a sweet week. You may be asking what chocolate has to do with beauty?
One of our upcoming nutrition experts Dina Khader promotes three types of dark chocolate. She suggested that Beauty 212 come and preview the fashion show held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York. When we heard that the clothing and accessories were going to be made out of chocolate we couldn't resist covering this one.
We'll bring you video footage shortly of what we saw at the show.
Oh, and welcome Dina Khader as one of our experts! www.dinakhader.com

MASCARA CONTEST!!!!

2007-11-12T22:44:00.000-05:00

To view lash test photos click this link: http://michaelfrost.com/client/grid.jpg

To view product photos closer click this link: http://michaelfrost.com/client/test.jpg

Mascara Contest Rules and Details

2007-11-12T21:59:00.001-05:00

Hi Guys and Gals,

We at Beauty 212 decided to conduct our own test on the most popular and widely available waterproof mascaras on the market.
We thought it would be fun to have a contest where you the viewer guesses which mascara goes with which lash photo.

Mario was able to carefully test all of the mascaras with the help of Lancome's Bifacil Eye Makeup Remover. He didn't even get red until the last two shots.

The photographer Michael Frost (www.michaelfrost.com) who has photographed quite often for Avon and other beauty brands had no idea how different mascara could be until we did this test.

Oh yes... the contest.
The first winner with the correct matches receives the newly released set of amazing All Day Mineral Lipcolors from Illuminare Cosmetics (www.illuminarecosmetics.com)

How to enter:
Send your Name, Email address, and answer key to mybeauty212@yahoo.com.
Title your email " MASCARA ANSWERS."

In one column list #'s 1 though 11. In the second column match up the letter that corresponds with the number. I'll give you the first one to start off.

Example: 1. ALMAY (C)
2. MAC (?)
3. MAYBELLINE (?)
4. PRESCRIPTIVES (?)
5. Etc.....

Contest begins November 13th, 2007 and will close by noon November 19th, 2007.

After the contest closes we will let you know how the waterproof mascaras weighed in Consumer Reports style.

Good luck to you all!

THE DOCTOR IS IN!

2007-11-07T17:24:00.000-05:00

Sunscreen and aging is a topic we are about to hear a lot more of in the next several years. The FDA is working on a star system that will rate how effective our sunscreens really are.

I ran across Dr. Gruber at a Medical convention. He really seemed passionate about sun protection and educating the public.

Karl Gruber, MD Pathologist is an expert because Karl is Board Certified in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and is currently a surgical and clinical pathologist at Trident Regional Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr.Gruber has been published in numerous publications, including the International Journal of Gynecological Pathology and the Southern Medical Journal.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Gruber has diagnosed countless patients with melanoma and is increasingly seeing skin cancer appear not only in adults, but in pre-teens and teenagers.

This finding prompted Dr. Gruber to create a sunscreen with the highest protection from UVA rays—those causing cancer—on the market that is hypoallergenic and oil-free.
You can read more about his story at http://lucasunscreen.com/ where he and his wife are making ongoing efforts towards advancing sun protection.

HOLD THE WHITE PLEASE

2007-11-07T16:57:00.000-05:00

QUESTION:

Hi Mary! My biggest concern is anti-aging, and I feel like the best thing to do is block your skin from sun damage. I wear sunblock every day, but some of the products that contain zinc or titanium dioxide make you look white. Is there a product you recommend or an ingredient to look for that offers maximum protection, without really making you look pasty white? Also, does a low spf number, like an 8 or 15 mean anything at all?

-Robin

ANSWER:

Dear Robin,

You are absolutely correct that the best anti-aging strategy is to be aware of and limit sun exposure. Exposure to the sun, particularly UVA rays, is the cause of solar aging, and by that I mean wrinkles, sunspots, skin thinning, loss of elasticity, etc. The best way to protect against the sun’s damaging rays is to every day use a high quality sunscreen that provides BOTH UVA AND UVB protection.

Most people are familiar with SPF (Sun Protection Factor), which provides information about a product’s level of UVB protection, which will keep your skin from burning.

Values over SPF 30 are meaningless.

I recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF 15.
Even more important is a sunscreen’s UVA coverage since these penetrating rays remain constant all day.

SCIENTIFIC STUFF:
Look at the list of the product’s active ingredients. The product must contain one of the three FDA approved ingredients for UVA protection: zinc, titanium, or avobenzone, the latter of which is most effective without creating the “pasty white” look.

But there’s more to the story. Avobenzone, for example, breaks down in sunlight so it must be stabilized to be effective against UVA rays. Conversely, as zinc and titanium are ground up or micronized to make them less white or gunky, some UVA protection is lost in the process. There are, however, wide variations in the quality of ingredients used and the skill of the formulators in product development.

Currently, the FDA is currently considering implementing a UVA rating system and requiring this value to be place on labels in addition to SPF values. Until this is mandated, consumers need to dig deeper and ask about a product's critical wavelength.

Critical wavelength is one of two UVA rating systems and is widely used by formulators in product development. The FDA considers any product with a critical wavelength over 370nm to provide excellent UVA protection.

Use an SPF30 when deliberately going out in the sun (skiing, snowboarding, golf, sailing). For reference, an SPF15 will allow for two (2) hours in sunlight before you will begin to burn; an SPF30 allowing for four (4) hours. The SPF test loses some of its predictive value for SPFs over 30-33, so an SPF45, SPF55 and higher are only marginally more protective than a SPF30. Reapplication every two (2) hours after sweating, swimming, etc. is more effective than using an SPF over 30.

For everyday use, in addition to an SPF 15, use a product with a critical wavelength of 370nm or greater for the best possible protection. Make it part of your daily routine for healthier and younger looking skin.

TO SPLURGE OR NOT TO SPLURGE ?

2007-11-06T15:40:00.001-05:00

QUESTION:

Does the price tag on a product correlate with results of the product?
La mer versus aveeno?

-Anonymous

ANSWER:

Yes ... there is a good reason why some creams cost a fortune & some
don't ... many products contain the same ingredient ... but just like in
food, there are different grades ... so a luxury product will be more
concentrated than the drugstore version ... and will therefore cost an
arm & a leg ... It's up to you to decide if it's worth splurging on
the"good" stuff ... I know I can't resist them! ... But just because
you can't afford La Mer or Giorgio Armani's Crema Nera doesn't mean you
don't have options ... there are wonderful bargain drugstore products
too ... think Maybelline Great Lash or Cetaphil Cleanser ... The
important thing is to find the products that work best for your skin ...
whether they are luxury or bargain ... who cares what the price is?

Have a pretty day!
Jeanine Recckio
Beauty & Lifestyle Futurologist

Jeanine Recckio

THE WATERPROOF TEST IS COMING!

2007-11-04T16:52:00.000-05:00

Hey there beauty bloggers. Hope you're enjoying some of the expert answers coming your way. Just make sure to keep those questions coming our way.
We just finished a small testing of some of the new and popular waterproof mascaras out there on the market. They have certainly come a long way over the last few years.
Keep posted for our You Tube presentation of our test and mascara contest!!!!

See ya soon!
Mary Schook

photo by Michael Frost

HELP! TOO ROSY FROM ROSACEA

2007-11-04T15:25:00.000-05:00

QUESTION:
I am 49 and have rosacea (for which I use a topical med as well as taking an antibiotic). I also have some broken capillaries in the nose and cheek area and slightly enlarged pores on my nose. I cannot afford to get the capillaries fixed.

I use ColorScience primer in yellow which helps counteract the red along with Clarins liquid foundation and am not always pleased with results. I have also tried mineral foundations, but they highlight rather than cover the pores in my nose.

What type of foundation would you recommend for me?

-Saphara

ANSWER:
Make up will just camouflage your redness & capillaries. You need to reduce the redness by changing your everyday habits:
1. Use nonfoaming, very light cleansers. You need to protect your skin.
2. Avoid heat, sun, hot food, hot water, prolong hot baths & showers because it causes dilation of the blood vessels, redness, and swelling in very sensitive skin.
3. Use sunscreen with low SPF (high will irritate your skin)everyday to avoid redness.
4. Avoid exfoliation
5. Use products that contain soothing ingredients and will reduce redness & prevent irritation: aloe vera, chamomile and bisabolol are well-known.
Some newer ingredients: steryl glycyrrhetinate and dipotasium glycerrhizinate (both from licorice extract), azulene, green tea and grapeseed extracts.

-Miss B

Anti-Aging On A Budget

2007-11-04T15:07:00.000-05:00

ANONYMOUS:
Okay, here's a question for you. How is someone supposed to fight aging
on a budget, when someone isn't a celebrity, just an average Jane Doe
that doesn't have access to a Black AmEx Centurion Card? What is
affordable, safe, and effective?

ANSWER:
Beauty on a budget ... is so much easier than you think! ... There are
many wonderful beauty products out there in your local pharmacy,
drugstore, and health food stores! You don't only have to shop at the
expensive department stores ... you just need to be brand-smart and find
those great & effective bargain products. Brands like Avon and Oil of
Olay are really up on the latest technology ... and have infused it in
some really good formulas at fantastic prices ... I absolutely love
ROC's serums & night creams ... and brands like Aveeno, Olay,
Neutrogena & Vaseline are also amazing and cost next to nothing!
Another way to save on beauty is to get a lot of mileage out of the
products you do buy ... a little goes a long way ... if you use just a
small amount it'll last longer & you won't have to buy more so quickly.

Another tip - if you can't afford the spa, why not turn your bathroom
into one? Home beauty treatments (facials, scrubs, masks, etc.) are
pretty simple and make you feel like a million bucks ... I always love a
good at-home spa night ... so relaxing & soooo much cheaper than using
the pros!

I also swear by my Pretty Water ... it's so affordable & a great 2-in-1
beauty must ... it's a natural spring water that enhances your beauty
thanks to a super-fab blend of essential nutrients ... making your skin
prettier & younger-looking with every sip! www.beautyfuturologist.com

Have a pretty day!
Jeanine Recckio
Beauty & Lifestyle Futurologist

Hair Fairy to the Rescue!!!

2007-10-31T20:18:00.000-04:00

Kimarie Teter is on the forefront of hair enhancement and innovative techniques through hair extensions as owner and director of Image by Kimarie.
This Los Angeles based hair maven uses unique techniques to create hair magic without surgery. Janeane Garofalo, Kristen Chenoweth of The West Wing, and Michael Madsen of Kill Bill are a few of the celebs she consistently "enhances" through a special technique of hair extensions that "loc" onto the hair.
Kimarie's most exciting work is currently with cancer patients, but we'll tell you more about Kimarie as her answers to your questions come in.
Check out more on our hair expert at www.imagebykimarie.com
Very Exciting!!

The Dr. Ruth of Beauty is Coming!!!!

2007-10-31T20:13:00.000-04:00

Hey there my smart little addicts. Great news! Professor Oxana Beauregard or as some of us graduates from world renowned esthetics school Atelier Esthetique in New York like to call her Miss B is coming on board to answer some of your questions. She is THE expert behind the experts, and one of the best gurus on skin that I know of out there. Stay tuned to see some of your questions answered and to learn more about Miss B!!!!
xo mary schook

Beauty Expert/ Futurologist Jeanine Recckio Debuts Our Expert Panel!

2007-10-29T22:10:00.000-04:00

Hey there guys and gals. Jeanine Recckio, CEO of mirrormirrorinc.com can't wait to answer your questions.
She is one of the behind the scenes experts predicting upcoming trends for companies such as J lo, Dior fragrance, L'oreal Paris, MAC, and Revlon. We're so happy to have her on board!
So keep those questions coming. It's going to take a lot to stump the experts!!!!

Great Questions!!!!Keep them coming!!!!

2007-10-25T14:30:00.000-04:00

Thank you so much for your questions!
Everyone is touching on all the topics we want to cover here at Beauty 212.
I am getting very anxious to start answer your questions, so we'll see what we can do about getting the experts in on this before the show launches.
Thanks for being part of the Beauty 212 community!

xo mary schook

Welcome to Beauty 212!

2007-10-21T18:46:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the grass roots of Beauty 212. My name is Mary Schook. Celebrities, supermodels, and supermoms all refer to me in my personal practice as the Beauty Engineer. For many years I have been discovering products, working with beauty companies, and solving the world's beauty problems one wrinkle at a time.
Check out more on me at www.maryschook.com

Enough about me. I'm putting together a new online show called Beauty 212. It is a show like no other. It's about real beauty solutions for both men and women (no more makeover shows!!!!!) I get to do what you want me to do. It will be investigative and problem-solving. ANYTHING goes here. It could be about weight, what creams work, too much hair, too little hair, how to find a lipstick......sky's the limit on this one (unless you are Virgin's Richard Branson).

The exciting news is we just filmed the first 5 minute episode on Alternative Anti-Aging Methods, but we need your help.
The next show is about solving your beauty problems. The great thing about Beauty 212 is the answer comes from the world's renowned hair, makeup, and skin experts.

Blog us your questions, photos, product picks, videos, anything your want to share.

I don't want to hear any more excuses or moaning about how you look!

Oh! Two last important notes: Make sure to tell all of your friends (that is if you like them enough)!

The show will hopefully be launching within a month at www.beauty212.com

See you there!

Mary Schook

WARNING: Advertisers will not influence the direction of our show!!!