It’s travel time again for me!

Last week, I spent a few days in New York City, and in the next few months I will be flying to Chicago, Las Vegas, California and just added to my itenerary…. Nebraska!! While visiting each of these cities, I’ll try my best to seek out unique attractions and dining experiences to share with you.

First stop: New York City

Last week, I attended the International Esthetics Conference at the Jacob Javits Center where businesses showcased the lastest in skin care technology. The Esthetics Show attracted thousands of skin care professionals and business owners looking to gain new knowledge on skin care services and innovative technology to boost business and sales.

After three days of walking the show aisles and collecting information, I narrowed down my favorite findings to share with you!

PURE INVENTIONS: White Tea & Blueberry

Beautify your skin from the inside with Pure Invention’s tea extracts. This little bottle fits perfectly into my purse and provides 60 servings of anti-oxidants (White Tea, Blueberry & Elderberry Extract).

If you missed my post on the recent weight loss and health benefits linked to White tea then click here to read more.

A recent study published in the journal of Nutrition and Metabolism revealed exciting results regarding white tea and weight loss. White tea showed to “inhibit adipogenesis and stimulate lipolysis-activity”, meaning that it stops the development of fat cells leading to a decrease in fat storage.

LING’S Moisture Plenish (Cell repare)

This hydrating serum was formulated by the 50 year old Asian Beauty Queen and celebrity facialist LING Chan. From Hong Kong to New York, LING has transformed many faces and lives. Not only does she continue to produce amazing products, but also donates to charities worldwide. I love LING! Read more on her inspiring story by clicking here.

Oh! A drop of this Hyaluronic infused serum is the perfect moisture boost before applying your moisturizer. Love it!!!

BODI PURE: BODY POLISH

This next product is manufactured and sold by a lovable husband and wife team. Yin Yoo and his wife have created a great line of body line products targeted to spas and nail salons. My favorite product of theirs is the “Body Polish”, a blend of hydrating baking soda particles that exfoliate my skin while infusing a moisture to my skin. I always feel baby smooth and soft after every bath. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

MEG 21 BRIGHT & FIRM Eye Treatment

This silky soothing eye treatment was unexpectedly discovered through diabetes research at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. MEG 21 contains a patented ingredient called Supplamine that targets the harmful effects caused by Glycation (when sugar binds with proteins and leads to inflammation, wrinkles, sagging and more).

This little cute jar lasts me around two months and helps give my eye area an energizing boost, reducing puffiness and dark circles while adding moisture.

CIRCADIA’s PHERADORE

I’ve read and watched so many educational programs on the role of pheromones and attracting the opposite sex. Pheromones are also responsible for feeling calm and cool, something I’m all about. This next product was created by skin expert Dr. Pugliese of Circadia. PherAdore is a yling-ylang scented roll on scent that contains four genetically engineered pheramones that should be applied twice a day on areas like the upper lip, around your nose, neck or even the wrists. The gentle scent can easily be combined with your favorite fragrance.

Whether this product truly works, I still love the ying-ylang smell. Roll it on, and instantly feel attractive

Like I mentioned earlier, I have a few stops in the next few months and I’ll do my best to seek out new findings for you. If you stumble upon any interesting products, please feel free to leave a comment and share with the rest of us skin junkies.

xoxo

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No laughing at this story!

Ok. So, it’s kinda funny now.

After college, I packed my bags and headed to NYC to pursue an internship in the music industry. (I’ll name drop later lol). Since internships are unpaid, I had to get a job on the side to pay my rent and bills.

One day, I was sent out to run some errands for the record label and I noticed a "Now Hiring" sign. I walked in, gave my info and was soon called for an interview at Ling Skin Care. 

Ling Skin Care was founded by Ling Chan, a skin care guru to the stars. Ling formed a natural and effective skin care line and built a few beautifully decorated spas around New York City. I was assigned the position of receptionist/ sales girl. Ling Chan was the face of the spa, but the person who ran the actual operation was extremely motivated son, Patrick. Patrick was only 30 at the time, and I was 22? I think.. lol.. 

Anyway, long story short. After few months of working with Patrick and showing him what I could do in both sales and marketing, he promoted as his assistant and moved me to the corporate office. Like brother and sister, Patrick and I butted heads a few times and he eventually fired my a%#.

The day after are heated drama, we both apologized to each other and we have been great friends ever since. Aww, I love you Patrick! Sorry I was a pain. I meant well.

Anyway, this post is not about me and Patrick’s drama, but it’s about my love for Ling Skin Care’s organic soaps, body scrubs and skin care. When I last visited Patrick a month back at Ling Skin Care Spa in Union Square (16th street), he generously filled my goodie bag with my favorite Ling products. Yay!

I can’t even begin to describe how much I love this body scrub. It feels like silk and smells like walnut heaven!

a closer look: imperial body scrub is a blend of natural exfoliating ingredients formulated to effectively slough off dead cells and impurities, while natural papain enzymes work to digest unhealthy skin cells.
the good stuff: contains rice to gently exfoliate and nourish the skin; Walnuts to exfoliate and accumulate dead cells; Honey to hydrate skin; Oatmeal to soothe skin; Ginger to revitalize; Papaya Enzymes to digest unhealthy dead cells and thoroughly clean the skin.
» created just for you: this ancient Chinese Imperial recipe was sued to aid the Empress in preserving a youthful, smooth skin tone. Rice and Walnuts are selected fro its special property of nourishing the skin and combating aging of the skin. This body scrub also emits an intoxicating, delicious aroma given off by the walnuts and honey.

Next time you want to buy your girls some bath stuff, forget that visit to Bath & Bodyworks and log on to lingskincare.com for this cute gift box filled with handmade aroma-infused soaps! (my favorites are the black charcoal and red jasmine)

 » a closer look: an assortment of our 12 favorite Organic Rice Soaps (In limited edition mini sizes)
12 Soaps Include:
» Black Charcoal
» Eucalyptus Blend
» White Jasmine
» Black Sesame
» Green Mulberry Tea
» Lemongrass
» Coffee Bean
» Red Jasmine
» Pineapple Pulp
» Fresh Rosemary
» Tree Ripe Papaya
» Ripe Peach

If you’re visiting the New York Area, stop by one of Ling’s three spa locations and try one of their famous facials, treatments and waxing. Oh by the way, they gave me my first Brazilian wax! (I was a model for their training class). What a traumatic first experience. Painful and embarrassing!

Take a few minutes to browse through Ling Skin Care’s website and check out their products. Don’t forget that also formulated a unique skin care line.

Email Patrick through the site and tell him I sent you. He might hook you up with some goodies too!

 

I have had my share of experience in the hair and beauty industry, so I have learned to ignore genius marketing strategies and purchase items that I truly love and that work best for me.

 

The products that I have featured in this article are just a few of my “can’t live without” items. I understand that everyone’s preference is different so I expect that some may or may not love my choices. At the end of this article, I would love for you to send me a list of your favorite day to day products. I am always up for testing new things!

 

# 1 I “can’t live without” ACNE FREE

I have suffered from acne all my life and tried everything from Differin Gel, ProActive to Birth Control pills. And the winner by a long shot is: ACNE FREE!

Ladies, I truly love this product. I noticed an improvement in my overall skin condition in only a few days. The only negative about this product, is that I have to continuously apply it daily or I’ll produce more oil and break out again. I’m oily, acne prone so I have to deal with it. And ACNE FREE has really made it simple for me to control my skin.

 

You can purchase Acne Free at any drug store (CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens etc).

The kit will run you $19.99 and lasts a month or two. Acne Free also offers a GIANT cleanser that I like to use in conjunction with my body wash.

 

 

# 2 I “can’t live without” MEG 21Advanced Formula

You’ve heard that sugar is bad for you, but have you heard that it is also horrible for your skin? Sugar’s harmful effects include inflammation, loss of collagen, cross-linking of elastin and collagen, free radicals and so much more.

 

My #2 favorite product is MEG 21! This amazing moisturizer contains a patented active ingredient called Supplamine that works to fight sugar’s harmful effects leading to great skin.

So let me tell you a personal testimonial about MEG 21.

 

First of all, I was offered a job by Dynamis, the makers of MEG 21 a few years back. I promised myself that I would never sell a product that I did not 100% believe in. before committing to the position, I requested if I could test the cream and read more about it. I fell in love with the Dynamis Story.

 

MEG 21 was unexpectedly discovered through Diabetes Research and helped target sugar in the skin. I was hesitant to use the cream since I had oily, acne prone pizza face skin and anything would cause it to break out.

 

From the first application, I fell in love with MEG 21. This product felt so soft and creamy, ultra hydrating, and soothing. My face did not break out at all, but instead it felt calm.

I have been using MEG 21 for over 2 years now and I swear by it. My skin has never glowed like this. The texture of my skin is smooth and radiant.

Ladies! This product is amazing under make up! Everyone thinks I have beautiful skin.. and I really don’t. You can ask my mom. 

If you’re looking to improve moisture, firmness and overall skin tone and texture, I suggest giving this product a try.

MEG 21 is distributed through aestheticians, plastic surgeons and dermatologists. Log on to www.DynamisSKinScience.com and find the closest seller near you.

 

 

# 3 I “can’t live without” St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Exfoliation is very important to me. Even though the skin naturally sheds every 25 days or so, a gentle scrub can assist with getting  any excess dead skin off. Exfoliation will also help better penetrate any other skin care products in to the skin so you can maximize the benefits.

I love St. Ives Apricot Scrub because it has a gentle grittiness to it and smells great. This scrub is very affordable and lasts me a few months since I only use it a few times a week. Over exfoliation can lead to more sensitive and irritated skin.

 

 

# 4 I “can’t live without” QUEEN HELENE, MINT JULEP MASQUE

Part of my weekly skin care regimen is Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque.

I like to apply a clay mask to help clean my skin from trapped dirt and toxins. The clay mask attaches itself to dirt in your pores so that you can easily wash them off. The mask also helps with shrinking pores. Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque is so cheap and efficient. It feels so cool and tingly on application and lasts me almost a year since I only need a little bit once a week.

 

 

# 5 I “can’t live without” LING RICE & WALNUTS IMPERIAL SCRUB

I like to take care of my entire body not just my face. My favorite body scrub is Ling Skin Care’s Imperial Body Scrub.

 

The perfect blend of rice, walnuts, and honey, Ling’s Imperial Scrub smells delicious! It really tastes sweet too. You can purchase the scrub at Ling Skin Care in New York or just order online. www.lingskincare.com Check out their handmade soaps too. They carry blends of black charcoal, jasmine and lemon grass soaps. Tell them Ghada sent you!

 

# 5 I “can’t live without” PALMER’S COCOA BUTTER

As I mentioned in the About me article, I also suffer from stretch marks all over so I like to treat my skin with nature’s cocoa butter. I love Palmer’s but any brand should be fine.

Cocoa butter is so thick and moisturizing, great for post showers. I like to apply it to damp skin so it will penetrate better and I won’t have to use as much.

Recent research indicates that massaging the skin with cocoa butter may help relieve stress, boost the immune system, and even prevent cancer.

 

# 6 I “can’t live without” HERBAL ESSENCES Hair Care

 

During my college years, I worked at a beauty salon that sold high end hair care lines such as Matrix, Nexxus and Back to Basics so I’ve had my experience in sampling many shampoos, conditioners and treatments. More and more companies are replicating the famous brands to offer it at a cheaper price.

Herbal Essences has done just that. I love this line especially the “color me happy” set, since I color and hi-lite my hair every 6-8 weeks. When I feel good about my looks, I project more confidence and energy. I love life more and my hair smells great! OMG! Just kidding, I really don’t talk like that.

  

 

# 7 I “can’t live without” BIOSILK HAIR SERUM

After a great shampoo, I have to prep my hair for a sleek blow dry. My hair tends to lean more towards the frizzy curly way. If I don’t apply a frizz control, forget about it. I look like the angry frizzy haired girls in the shampoo commercials.

 

Farouk System’s Biosilk is an unbelievably smoothing serum for any hair type. Other hair serums and shines can turn my hair greasy if I accidentally apply too much. Biosilk doesn’t seem to do that. I’m not too crazy about their shampoos, but the Silk Therapy always has a space on my beauty shelf. Try this serum as a body oil. It really feels like silk.

 

What are some of your “can’t live without” beauty products! I would love to see what’s on your beauty shelf.

 

Coming Soon… Part 2 where I share my favorite make up findings!