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Monthly Archives : August 2016

Travel Beauty Travel Guide: Tel Aviv

Travel Beauty Travel Guide Tel Aviv Israel

One of my favorite international cities of all time is Tel Aviv. It ties for first place with Paris. I try to get there at least twice a year. If you have not been there in two years or more……you won’t recognize it. If you’ve never been there, you won’t recognize your vision of what you imagined it would be like.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv is a bustling global metropolitan city packed with some of the best restaurants, chic, luxurious hotels, museums, performing arts centers, shopping and the largest Bauhaus architectural district on the planet! It has the second largest economy in the Middle East, following only Dubai and is the 18th most expensive city to live in. So forget about notions of “the holy land”. Though this ancient seaport is drenched in tales of ancient history – my Tel Aviv is anything but a city out of the bible.

What To Do

  • Old Jaffa PortHead to the promenade and make your way down to the Old (now new) Jaffa Port in southern Tel Aviv. This ancient fisherman’s port has been turned into a modern promenade featuring beautiful shops, art galleries and cafes tucked into charming ancient stone buildings. From there you can also walk northeast into the Old City of Jaffa. You will find a winding labyrinth of alleyways dotted with shops and cafes.
  • Go for a walk in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus district by the sea. Art galleries, shops and cafes abound.
  • Tel Aviv Museum of ArtSince 1932 The Tel Aviv Museum of Art has been one of Israel’s leading artistic institutions of modern and contemporary art, and home to one of the world’s largest collections of Israeli art. Collections include painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, photography, video, installations and architecture and design. 27 Shaul Hamelech Blvd.

Where To Eat and Drink

  • Herbert Samuel, located in the Gaon House on Tel Aviv’s promenade is the best restaurant I have been to in a long time, including those that I have patronized in New York City. The food, wine, service and ambiance are world-class. The executive chef, Jonathan Roshfeld trained in Cannes and worked his way through Michelin star restaurants in France. The menu has a mix of French and Mediterranean influences. Make sure to be daring and try some of the specials. Also the pasta dishes are a must – all pasta is homemade. 6 Koifman Street.
  • Montefiorelocated on the ground floor of the ultra chic Hotel Montefiore, serves what it calls brasserie cuisine under a Vietnamese spell. The bottom line is the food is superb and décor is warm and inviting. At once I felt as though I were magically transported to a Parisian bistro. Every detail — from the leather banquettes and oversized mirrors to the elongated wooden bar and French/Hebrew menu — is utterly sophisticated. 36 Montefiore Street.
  • The Old Man and the Sea (Ha Zaken Vi Ha Yam). One of the oldest restaurants in Jaffa, this hyper local institution serves up some of the freshest fish and seafood around. Upon arrival you will find yourself bombarded with 90 different traditional salads. Make sure to order a whole fish or seafood special, all locally caught. Great for lunch. 85 Kedem Street.
  • And for die hard Shwarma fans, you must stop at Shwarma Shemesh (Sun Shwarma) It’s so divvy we actually ate in the car but the seasoning is sensational and they pack french fries into the pita sandwich. Nothing not to like there. 85 Jabotinsky Street.

Ivshin Jewelry Design Travel BeautyWhere To Shop

There are tons of pockets of great shopping in Tel Aviv including weekly outdoor crafts markets but I am going to focus on some of the standouts. My favorite place to shop is Neve Tzedek in southwestern Tel Aviv. Established in 1887, it can be likened to the meatpacking district in New York City. The area’s architecture was strongly influenced by the Bauhaus Movement. Start out on Shlom Shabazi Street and you can’t go wrong. In addition to some of the most beautiful Bauhaus architecture lined quaint narrow streets, you will find some marvelous shopping. Some of my favorite shops in this area include:

  • Numéro13 Concept StoreChic casual French fashions, accessories, baby clothes and home decor. 13 Shlom Shebazi.
  • IvshinMy favorite fine jewelry boutique in Tel Aviv. Owner Orit Ivshin makes the most beautiful designs – her workshop is actually in the store. She ships all over the world and will craft custom creations just for you. 54 Shlom Shabazi.
  • Mik An MorHandcrafted leather handbags, belts, accessories, jackets and jewelry. Fantastic one-of-a-kind pieces. 56 Shabazi Street.
  • HafatzimBeautiful home décorrugs, lighting, kitchenware, linens and accessories all characterized by simple, clean lines, natural fibers and materials. 27 Shlush Street.

One More Magical Stop in Central Tel Aviv

  • The PhotoHouse: Such a special spot – you will feel the magic as soon as you walk through the door. Opened in 1936, the world renowned PhotoHouse is Israel’s oldest photography shop. The collection of over a million negatives, all taken by photographer and founder, Rudi Weissenstein has won numerous awards and been featured in exhibits throughout Europe and the US. This is a not to be missed experience. A documentary film, Life in Stills, was just released on the life and work of the founder. 5 Tchernichovski Street.

I could go on and on but don’t want you to go home broke – so I’ll stop here.

Where To Stay

  • The Norman Tel Aviv, a brand new chic, elegant boutique hotel in one of the poshest neighborhood’s in central Tel Aviv. In close proximity to major art galleries, museums, Israel’s National Theater as well as to Shenkin Street and Rothschild boulevard – home to designer shops and fantastic restaurants. Also, just a 10 minute walk to the beach. The hotel is truly enchanting, a fusion of 1920’s grandeur and contemporary elegance. Do have a drink at the library bar before dinner and dine at The Norman Restaurant. The French and Italian influenced cuisine will not disappoint. 23 & 25 Nachmani Street.
  •  Hotel Montefiore is located near the Norman Hotel in the center of Tel Aviv opposite Rabin Square. The warm French décor made me feel as though I were whisked away to Paris. The rooms are elegant, modern and beautifully appointed. Each room features the artwork of an emerging Israeli artist. 36 Montefiore Street.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter: @AlyssaBarrie

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Top Lip Care Tips For All Seasons

Lip Care Tips For All Seasons

Social media has helped focus a lot of attention on the lips these days, “the Kylie Jenner Effect”. Yes, these days we can easily inject filler in the office to make your lips more plump and kissable with little down time and minimal discomfort, but what’s the use if you don’t take care of what your mama gave you?

More than lip service

If I’m being honest, I probably remember sun protection for my lips 50% of the time when I plan for a beach day, and 0% of the time on a normal work day. This is not enough, and I know better. The skin over your lips is extremely thin and sensitive and requires extra attention to keep your pout sultry and healthy. Everyone knows about using SPF for their face and body, but ultraviolet radiation from the sun can really add up in the delicate skin over the lip leading to both aesthetic and medical problems.

How does sun exposure affect my lips?

Cosmetically, ultraviolet exposure can affect collagen production in the lips over time, and repeat exposure can lead to thinning of the lips and those vertical lines around the lips known as “smokers’ lines” (how ‘80s!). A chronic dry, cracked tender lip (the lower lip more commonly than the upper lip) can mean that you’ve developed “actinic cheilitis”, which, aside from not being pretty, is a precancerous condition that can develop into squamous cell cancer of the lips (yikes!). Other types of lip can cancer can develop too, including basal cell cancer. Those who have fairer skin, blond hair, blue eyes, or a history of skin cancers are most at risk, though we must all be vigilant.

Some great products to protect your lips all year long

Lips need extra loving in both the summer sun, and harsh winter air.  B. Kamins Laboratories Lip Balm SPF 20 UVA/UVB sunscreen helps prevent sun damage, including unsightly and uncomfortable lip sore breakouts and also helps to repair dry, chapped, sore lips once the damage is done.

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream – this versatile cream from Japan can be used on both the lips and the body to help lighten your beauty regimen load. The rich balm is enriched with vitamin E, vitamin B2, and camphor, but without sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals or phthalates, so it’s suitable for even the most sensitive, and allergic.

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The Effects of Stress on The Body

The Effects of Stress on The Body

I stumbled upon an infographic by The American Institute of Stress stating that almost half of all Americans feel more stressed now as compared to 5 years ago, and 75% of doctor’s visits are due to stress-related ailments. This is not unique to The United States. It is a far reaching global phenomenon. I was intrigued and decided to learn more about how to detect the early signs of stress and how to counteract them.

External Signs of Stress

Those affected by stress tend to look and feel tired and worn down. Under eye puffiness can become more pronounced, skin tone can look dull and become more susceptible to breakouts, hair can begin to thin and the scalp to flake. Though this can be remedied, to an extent, with personal care products, the reality is that you’re stressed and steps must be taken to protect your body inside and out.

The Invisible Effects of Stress

What’s really troubling is that stress has worse effects, which are invisible. When your stress levels are consistently high, there are consequences that can be disturbing, and even life threatening if left unchecked. Hence, it’s important to unwind, laugh, spend time with friends and learn to manage stressful situations.

Effects of Stress on The Body

Stress has effects on all systems of the human body, for instance, studies have shown a direct correlation between chronic muscle pain and musculoskeletal disorders in people who experience chronic stress. 

The respiratory system may also be affected, making breathing somewhat more difficult. This becomes especially problematic for people that suffer from asthma as well as those who are prone to panic attacks. 

Chronic stress is also widely linked to heart ailments. Stress contributes to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and even inflammation in the circulatory system, affecting vital blood pathways in the body such as the coronary arteries. 

The liver and adrenal glands are another set of organs affected by stress. Elevated stress levels lead to the release of ‘stress hormones’, which result in the production of more glucose. An increase in glucose production means higher blood sugar, which puts individuals at greater risk for diabetes.

A blog post by Aboca highlights the effect of stress on the digestive system, describing how stress can interfere with the entire digestive process and result in gastrointestinal disorders like IBS and constipation. 

Stress Compromises The Immune System

The immune system suffers as well from high stress levels. As explained by Executive Medicine, the natural defense of the body is compromised by stress, which makes individuals more susceptible to viral illnesses like flu.

In short, constant stress has serious impacts on every aspect of the body. Here are some remedies to help overcome and counter stress.

How To Minimize Stress

Exercise is proven to promote wellbeing including stress reduction mentally and physically. Activities like yoga, strength training, jogging and walking can all keep stress in check.

Playing mindless video games for approximately 30 minutes a day aids in stress management. Believe it or not, games like the popular cut and slash Fruit Ninja is an excellent stress reliever. Then there’s classic games such as Slingo which has received positive feedback because of its relaxing attributes. And who could forget the multi-awarded Plants vs. Zombies? These games can effectively help lower overall stress levels.

Getting enough shut eye is perhaps the most important part of the equation. Sleep deprivation is correlated with increased stress levels; therefore, getting the right amount of rest is vital.

While stress can adversely affect our outward appearance, it has more detrimental effects on the internal organs and activities of the body and can lead to serious complications.

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Back to School Ready: Skin Care Edition

back to school skin care

Our teens and wide-eyed college coeds are returning from sleepaway camp, teen tours and backpacking excursions in Europe and Asia. The 12 – 21 set has been so busy soaking up the sun, and god knows what else, that they are probably in need of a good facial to reset their skin. They have been so busy with summer activities that a daily skin care regimen has fallen to the bottom of the to do list. Our progeny have returned home with breakouts and post-summer skin irritation due to overexposure to the sun, perhaps sans proper protection and care.

Whether going back to school or off to university, it is a good time to start kids off with a simple custom regimen that will empower them to easily take care of their skin all year round. Yasmine Djerradine Institut de Beauté offers a Teenage Facial devised with teenage skin in mind.

A Cautionary Word of Warning

Young skin is sensitive. It is an imperative to select products that are gentle (organic is not always the answer – many organic products can be the harshest as they tend to have high concentrations of ingredients) on the skin. Products that are too harsh tend to be a major culprit contributing to adolescent skin irritation and spots.

Back To School Skin Care Regimen

In the spirit of keeping it simple, here are three easy, turnkey steps that are sure to work for all:

Step One: Cleanse

Lavido makes a gentle Purifying Face Cleanser that is specially formulated for sensitive skin. It is well suited for everyone and gently removes dead skin cells and impurities. For those in their late teens and early twenties, who wear makeup and are willing to take an extra step, I also suggest a post cleansing toner. Heaven Skincare EllaJane Celebrity Skin Wipes are ideal. It’s a toner in an easy to use wipe. They contain honey which heals and moisturizes as well as peppermint which balances the skin’s oil levels and keeps blemishes at bay. Wipes are my favorite, particularly for nighttime when everyone is tired and just wants to crawl into bed. Cleansing and moisturizing are most important at night as this is the time when the skin carries out its filtering activities at the cellular level.

Step Two: Moisturize

Alchimie Forever Daily Defense Cream SPF 23 is all natural, dermatologist-tested and vegan. This moisturizer is gentle and has a light SPF, which is beneficial all year long.

For young men that are about to start shaving or are already doing so, Ursa Major Traveler’s Skin Care Kit is an all encompassing try me kit containing a cleaner, toner, moisturizer/aftershave and toner soaked face wipes. Fortifying Face Balm is an ideal moisturizer and/or aftershave. It fights razor burn and irritation like a charm. Ursa Major’s individually wrapped Essential Face Wipes are perfect for use after gym class, as a late afternoon refresher or quick clean-up before bed.

Step Three: At Home Mini Facial

For those that will take the extra step, applying a mask once a week will do wonders. It is akin to an at home mini facial that will keep their skin clear all year long. Lavido Gentle Exfoliator Peeling Cream is meant to be a 2- 3 x per week gentle face scrub but I use it as a face mask. The formula contains oyster shell powder and pomegranate peel grains to turn over dead skin cells and buildup. It is extremely effective at unclogging pores but is gentle enough not to overdry skin. Plus, on days that it is used, it can be used as a 2-in-one cleanser and mask. Just apply, leave on for 5 – 10 minutes and rinse. Very easy.

Some Useful Extras

For teens that find themselves with blemishes, B. Kamins Laboratories Blemish Gel 5% is the perfect spot treatment to dab onto affected areas. It delivers the right amount of medicine in a lower dose than other over the counter treatments and will not irritate or overdry skin.

Additionally, Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream is a no brainer. With the change of season and school stress, everyone can use a new lip balm to kick off the school year with a stunning smile!

All of these products will take you and your teens through fall and into winter seamlessly.

By: Alyssa Barrie Weiss, Twitter @AlyssaBarrie

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Hair Brush Basics

hair brush basics

Hair brushes are so basic and taken-for-granted that it’s easy to overlook their importance. Using the right hairbrush properly has direct effects on both the health and appearance of your hair.

You’ve heard it many times before

Brushing is very good for your hair! It stimulates blood circulation to the scalp, bringing it nutrients and oxygen. It helps cleanse the hair, removing dirt, skin cells, and product. It smooths the outer layer of each hair strand and the cuticle, promoting shine. It also separates the hairs, incorporating air for a fresh bounce.

Sounds simple enough

until you notice that your stylist uses a selection of about a dozen brushes, all different sizes and shapes while doing that killer blowout. To help guide you through the process, here are just a few of Salon Ishi’s brush basics – a hair brush 101 if you will.

Detangling brush

I’ll put it gently: if you don’t have a detangling brush, get one. These are especially necessary for long hair. Detangling brushes are specially designed to distribute the tension in interwoven hair evenly and typically have nylon bristles designed to glide through hair easily. When detangling hair, be gentle so you don’t cause breakage. This is why special detangling brushes are valuable. At Salon Ishi every one of our shampoo sinks is equipped with the S-Heart-S Scalp Brush. It’s our go-to tool for brushing wet hair.

This brush is extremely valuable. It’s also perfect for people with:

  • fine or weak hair who are afraid of brushing
  • thinning hair who need to stimulate the scalp with gentle yet penetrating bristles

Pro tip: if hair is really tangled, start brushing from the ends, not the scalp. And take in small sections.

Smile Heart Story Scalp Brush KassaScalp massage brush

A healthy scalp yields healthy hair, and massaging the scalp to stimulate blood flow and relax tight muscles is an important step to a healthy scalp. The S-Heart-S Scalp Kassa Massage Brush, available at Salon Ishi, is a wonderful, versatile tool. It not only has soft, pliable bristles for the scalp but also has a special shape for fitting the hand and has three round points that can be applied to pressure points on the head, neck, shoulders, scalp, the inside of the hands and even feet for an invigorating muscle massage. We use this brush in our famous Shiatsu Shampoo treatment. Massage, ahhh.

Brushes for blowdrying and styling

With regard to the material construction of the brush bristles you have basically two choices:

  • natural
  • nylon

For brush shape you also have two main choices:

  • round
  • flat

In terms of size, there many choices from small to large:

  • smaller is preferable for short hair
  • large brushes for long hair

Let’s break down the advantages and uses of each

For everyday brushing: natural bristles are best. Natural bristles have varying lengths which touch more hairs, and the natural material cleans and smooths the hair for a healthy shine.

For blowdrying and styling: choose nylon bristles. You’re wanting grip, control and durability. Nylon bristles perform better under high heat than natural bristles.

When selecting the shape of your brush consider the end result you’re looking for. If you want volume and some curl, use a round brush. If you’re aiming for a straight, sleek style, use a flat brush.

Pro hair brushing tips

  • Watch which brush your stylist uses on your hair.
  • Tension is key to smoothness and uniformity, whether you’re going for volume or sleekness. Practice keeping the section you’re working on tight.
  • Work in small sections. Yes, it will take longer, but you have better control.

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