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What Is Mineral Makeup?

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Mineral makeup is not a new concept but has only in the last few years exploded in popularity. The loose powder foundations and blushes, the most popular items, are light, finely ground loose minerals that are buffed into the skin using a wide, fluffy brush. The main ingredients (minerals such as mica, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide), have been the basis of most makeup foundations for decades, but many dermatologists report that because mineral makeup frequently eliminates classic irritants such as fragrances, binders, synthetic dyes, talc, and preservatives, it is considered purer and can be kinder to the skin.

Because titanium dioxide and zinc oxide have anti-inflammatory properties, certain mineral makeups can also have a calming effect on the skin, particularly important if you suffer from inflammatory problems such as rosacea or acne. Mineral makeup also is known for being noncomedogenic, and many manufacturers claim it also offers sun protection. This is mostly due to to the high content of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide -- two ingredients commonly found in traditional sunscreen. But mineral makeup does not replace sunscreen, rather, it adds a modicum of extra protection.

Many consumers say they are initially drawn to try mineral makeup because of skin health claims -- more specifically, that its pure formulations are safer and better for sensitive and acne- or rosacea-prone skin. Those who love it rave about the light, natural, long-lasting glow. Others, however, complain that it's drying, irritating, and accentuates wrinkles. Some say the colors have an ashy undertone that is a particular problem for ethnic skin types. Others says it's messy and expensive, but fans say the containers last an inordinately long time, and if you're careful when applying, it's no messier than any other makeup.

The bottom line is that mineral makeup is another option that, like all makeup, will be loved and used by some but not by all. While there are several "boutique" lines available -- BareMinerals, Sheer Cover -- mineral makeup can now be found as part of many major brands' lines and can be purchased in a drugstore or big box store.

Source: WebMD. Read the full article for more.

Antiperspirants and Deodorants: Are they Safe or Bad for You?

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Depending on who you ask, antiperspirants and deodorants are either toxic or safe. So which is it? According to the government, they are safe.

All antiperspirants, whether they are roll-ons, sticks or aerosols, contain aluminum (either aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex GLY). There is a belief that aluminum is a contributing factor connected to Alzheimer's and possibly other diseases.

According to the Alzheimer's Society, there is no conclusive medical or scientific evidence of a link between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease. "Aluminum is one of the most abundant minerals in the world, and worldwide research has not found any evidence that exposure to everyday levels of aluminum is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease," states the Society on its website.

Some antiperspirants and deodorants also contain parabens, which are preservatives. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says there is no evidence or research data that ingredients in underarm antiperspirants or deodorants cause cancer. Parabens have been linked to breast cancer by at least one scientific study; the FDA found that this theory lacked sufficient evidence.

Since 2004, the FDA has required that all antiperspirant products containing aluminum include a warning that advises people with kidney disease to consult a physician before using the product. This warning is targeted toward patients with advanced kidney disease who may not be able to excrete the low levels of aluminum in the body that may result from the use of antiperspirant.

One its website, the FDA states "at the present time there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about the use of cosmetics containing parabens. However, the agency will continue to evaluate new data in this area. If FDA determines that a health hazard exists, the agency will advise the industry and the public, and will consider its legal options under the authority of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act in protecting the health and welfare of consumers."

For those folks who would rather be safe than sorry, there are several products in the marketplace that provide antiperspirant and deodorant protection that are aluminum-free and paraben-free including Arm & Hammer Essentials and Herbal Clear.

Chicago French Market Brings La Campagne to Chicago's West Loop

Filed under: Dining



There are more than a dozen Euro-inspired food markets in Chicago, but they're seasonal. If you wanted your favorite bottle of Brittany's cidre doux to keep you warm in December, you had to stock up on it in September. Good news, then, for the francophiles: with the opening of the open-year-round Chicago French Market on Thursday, December 3, that kind of unholy abstinence -- and planning ahead -- is no more.

Taking its place in the Metramarket in The Windy City's West Loop, the French Market will be the only 365-day, Euro-chic indoor purveyor. Offerings from local farms and artisanal shops include certified organic produce, meat, fish, bread, pastries, small batch cheeses and wines, and flowers. And don't forget the chocolates and Lavazza coffee. Prepared meals can also be had for when you want an evening in Provence without spending business-class fare.

Six days a week the 15,000-square-foot market will exist to serve you, and there's covered, ground-level parking to entice you further -- validated for an hour free if you spend $20. The adventure begins at 7:30 Thursday morning, just in time for a pain au chocolat and a cafe creme.

Eloise Returns to the Plaza Hotel

Filed under: Journeys, Children


After a $450 million, three-year, lobby to roof renovation and restoration, the Plaza Hotel is welcoming back Eloise, a longtime favorite guest.

Indeed, today, the Eloise shop will open on the Concourse Level of The Shops at The Plaza. As irresistibly engaging as the fictional six-year-old heroine herself, who "moved into" The Plaza in 1955 with pet pug Weenie, turtle Skipperdee and her "mostly companion," Nanny, the 2,100 square feet Eloise shop is designed to delight both young and old.

Playfully decorated to be faithful to Eloise's indomitable spirit and distinctive color palette of "Eloise pink" and black, the 2,100-square-foot Eloise shop resembles a 'playhouse,' an homage to one of the most lovably precocious fictional characters ever. Eloise fans may re-enact their favorite vignettes from the "Eloise" books and movies. Guests can relax in the stylish living room, and plan their (mis)adventures with the concierge, just like the fictional character did in her namesake books.

In the Fashion Room guests can dress up in costumes and transform into mini-Eloises while modeling their favorite looks from a podium. In the Library Room, guests may enjoy "park views" and watch their favorite Eloise movie clips, play on the computer stations or enjoy story time with their mostly companion. And of course, fans can't leave without a visit to the Tea Room where family and friends can come together for tea and birthday parties and other celebrations. A visit to the Beauty Salon rounds out a day of living like Eloise. In Spring 2010, tea and birthday parties, beauty salon service and etiquette classes will be available too.

For shoppers, the store offers a wide variety of Madame Alexander dolls, Eloise books, Eloise-inspired bathrobes and bath towels, and exclusive product lines including the Eloise in Paris doll. The holiday debut will provide shoppers with an assortment of special holiday gift items including an exclusive Eloise ornament, Eloise at Christmas book and holiday-themed dolls.

In Spring, 2010, the Plaza's website will launch an Eloise fan club with highlights such as a section that shares Eloise's favorite things to do and see in New York. Also available are two Eloise overnight hotel offers: the 'Live Like Eloise' and 'Live Like Eloise Slumber Party' packages (for booking information visit theplaza.com). And since everyone "absolutely looooves" Eloise, The Plaza will introduce an Eloise themed suite designed by Betsey Johnson to debut 2010.

Designated a New York City Landmark in 1969, the Plaza Hotel is also the only New York City hotel to be designated as a National Historic Landmark. There are numerous additional boutiques in the Shops at the Plaza, including Ghurka, Kenneth Jay Lane, Douglas Hannant and Anna Hu.For reservations, call (888) 240-7775 or visit www.theplaza.com.

The Luxist Readers' Choice Awards for Best Accessories

Filed under: Jewelry, Timepieces


Do you know of a magnificent jewelry line with pieces that are to die for? Which is the finest watch line in the world? Which designer creates the the most exquisite leather goods line? Which department store or boutique is the premier destination for those in search of the highest of quality? Which clothing designer is fashion's finest? If you have opinions about who are the premier creators and carriers of the finest luxury goods there are to be had, we want to hear from you!

The Luxist Readers' Choice Awards for Best Accessories will be awarded based on your nominations and voting. We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Jewelry Line
Best Watch Line
Best Leather Goods Line
Best Department Store or Boutique
Best Clothing Line

One nomination per category, please. Submissions can be filed until December 15th, 2009.

What's the Best Way to Research a Luxury Vacation?

Filed under: Journeys, Video


Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the best ways to research a luxury vacation.

How important is word of mouth? Do travel agents still play a key role? How important is the Internet in the research process? Are websites, including Facebook and TripAdvisor, gaining in their importance?

Adam Stewart, chief executive of Sandals Resorts International; Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts; and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their insights with Luxist.

Readers' Choice Winners for Best in Food

Filed under: Dining, Services


Votes have been cast for Best Gourmet Grocer/Food Hall, Best Online Gourmet Goods, Best Cheese Shop, Best Caviar Retailer and Best Bread Bakery. The Luxist Readers' Choice Award Winners are all leaders in their respective industries.

Dorothy Lane Market is the Readers' Choice Award Winner for Best Gourmet Grocer/Food Hall. Dorothy Lane Market, also known as DLM by its loyal customers, has several well-known gourmet supermarkets in the Dayton, Ohio area that are recognized for great food and service.

The Readers' Choice Award Winner for the Best Online Gourmet Food is Dean & DeLuca. Though the New York institution is now one of America's finest online grocers -- offering a wide array of food, wine and even kitchenware --- the company got its start well before the information superhighway received its first coat of pavement. Dean & DeLuca's staff travel the world in search of great artisan-produced foods.

The Readers' Choice Award Winner for the Best Caviar Retailer is Petrossian. New York City-based Petrossian has grown to become the premier buyer and importer of Russian caviar worldwide. Its Tsar Imperial label graces some of the finest Beluga, Ossetra and Sevruga on the market. To this day, the company insists that members of the Petrossian family personally select the best of every Russian caviar catch.

Zingerman's Bakehouse is the Readers' Choice Winner in the Best Bread Bakery category. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Bakehouse is comprised of a group of 130 dedicated foodies and skilled artisan bakers that use traditional methods to hand make all of their breads and sweets and sell to over 100 wholesale customers in addition to a growing crowd of retail shoppers.

Farmstead is the Readers' Choice Winner in the Best Cheese Shop category. A husband-and-wife team own this Providence, R.I.-based company that develops close relationships with producers and hand-select fine foodstuffs, specializing in small production, limited release cheeses. As an extension of this hands-on approach, Farmstead aims to educate its customers on the subtleties and history of cheese, offering product tastings, cooking demonstrations, and cheese and beverage pairing classes.

How to Wear a Scarf

Filed under: Apparel

Scarves are a great way to dress up an otherwise drab outfit and can be layered with everything from a silk blouse to a cotton tank top. Some women have a knack for throwing on a scarf and instantly looking totally pulled together and gorgeous, but most of us have to make a deliberate effort in order to pull off the look successfully. The real key is confidence -- wear the scarf however you feel comfortable, in whatever way you think looks best, and in a color and material that flatters your skin tone. Truthfully, wearing a scarf isn't as complicated as it seems and is actually pretty difficult to get wrong, but there are a few rookie mistakes to avoid.

DO choose a material that fits the season. Lightweight scarves look great year round but save the heavier fabrics for fall and winter only.

DON'T mix too many patterns together. If you have a lot going on already in terms of prints or patterns on your outfit choose a solid colored scarf -- simple is usually better.

DO wear scarves to both formal and informal occasions -- just be sure to match the styling to the event. For something dressy try a sleek 'neckerchief' or an elegant butterfly wrap. For a more casual look the bandana is gaining popularity with celebrities.

DON'T be afraid to experiment. Scarves can not only be worn around your neck but also around your waist as a belt, on your head as a headband, or tied to the handle of your bag to add a punch of color and feminine flair.

DO collect scarves in a variety of colors, fabrics, and sizes so you have options when you're looking to accessorize. Although scarves are amazingly versatile they aren't all created equal and each has different strengths. The right scarf for the right occasion makes all the difference.

The Health Benefits of Massage

Filed under: Spas

Massages are a wonderful luxury and also one of the few traditionally "guilty pleasures" that aren't so guilty after all. Massages are a great tool for relaxation and stress management, as well as beneficial in treating a host of other problems and giving some unexpected health benefits.

Pain Science has yet to discover exactly how massage helps with pain but somehow it does. Theories surround the fact that massages relax muscles, reduce stress hormones, and stimulate good hormones. Pain due to fibromyalgia, migraines, and back pain respond particularly well to massage therapy.

Self-Esteem
Believe it or not regular massages have been shown to raise self-esteem in some people. Direct contact in the form of touch can help a person feel connected and cared for, and as a result have a greater feeling of self-worth and higher self-esteem.

Mood
One of the most common benefits of massage is a decrease in stress hormones and an increase in 'feel good' hormones, which means decreased stress, anxiety, and depression, and improved relaxation and overall mood.

Immunity The stress hormone cortisol impairs the body's immune system, but massages reduce cortisol and so give your immunity a boost.

Sleep/Alertness Massage, depending on what kind, can either stimulate deeper sleep or improved alertness.

The History of Chocolate

Filed under: Dining

Chocolate is one of the most popular foods in the world yet it has a very elusive history -- so many enjoy it but have no idea how, when, or where it first came to be.

Origins in the Amazon
The cacao tree is thought to have originated in the Amazon about 4000 years ago. The word chocolate can be traced back 2000+ years all the way to the Aztec word "xocoatl," which meant "bitter water" and referred to an unsweetened drink the Aztecs brewed from cacao beans. There's also evidence of an ancient alcoholic brew made by fermenting the fleshy fruit that surrounds the cacao beans in old pottery remnants from Honduras.

Magical and Divine
Cacao beans were also considered by the Mayans and the Aztecs to be divine and magical, with legends attributing the origins of the tree and beans to various Gods in the heavens. Cacao beans were considered valuable and often used as currency for the ancient tribes, in addition to being incorporated into many sacred rituals.

Over to Europe
When Europeans discovered the Americas they didn't like the bitter chocolate drink at first, but when they tried sweetening it (with honey or cane juice) it was another story and the new beverage quickly became popular and spread throughout Spain. Throughout the 17th century chocolate continued to gain popularity as a drink for the rich and affluent all over Europe, credited with nutritional, medicinal, and aphrodisiac qualities.

The first chocolate bar

In the early 1800s 'dutch cocoa' was born when a chemist learned how to make powdered chocolate by removing some of the natural fat, then pulverizing what was left and treating it with alkaline salts to remove the bitterness. Several years later a man named Joseph Fry took dutch cocoa and added melted cacao butter, thus inventing the first modern chocolate bar.

And the rest is history
Cadbury was the first company to market chocolate candies in 1868, followed quickly by Nestle who came out with milk chocolate just a few years later.

Dean & DeLuca Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Online Gourmet Food

Filed under: Dining


Dean & DeLuca
is the winner of the Readers' Choice Award for Best Online Gourmet Food.

Though it's now one of America's finest online grocers -- offering a wide array of food, wine and even kitchenware --- the New York-based company got its start well before the information superhighway received its first coat of pavement.

In the 1970's, Joel Dean and Giorgio DeLuca traipsed around the world in search of artisan-produced foods that pleased their customers as well as themselves. They wanted products that fired their imaginations, challenged their tastes and turned dinner into a creative exercise.

When the partners opened the original Dean & DeLuca in Soho in September 1977, the neighborhood wasn't the hopelessly chic shopping enclave it is today; rather, it was an authentically gritty corner of the Big Apple. As such, founding partner, Jack Ceglic, designed the first store to evoke a turn-of-the-century food department. Beneath the whir of ceiling fans, high shelves brimmed with rare artisan foodstuffs from flavored salts to cured meats.

Joel and Giorgio continued to expand their operation, adding another New York shop with four times the space of the original in 1988. Boutiques throughout the city followed, as did locations in Charlotte, Kansas City and Washington, D.C. Demand for the grocer's goods even spawned a store in Tokyo.

Dean & DeLuca's wide array of gourmet offerings range from black truffle barbecue sauce, cilantro lime butter and tapas to Asian inspired delicacies such as green tea truffles, purple sweet potato vinegar and organic sushi rice. It also has an impressive selection of meats, seafood, pates, ready-to-serve appetizers, artisanal cheeses and sweets. In search of a Mediterranean sea salt? How about a Himalayan salt harvested from the beds of ancient seas? Look no further than Dean & DeLuca. The company has also launched a new wine division with knowledgeable staff who can recommend the best food and wine pairings for any event.

Today, website makes the grocer's trademark meats, fish, cheeses, herbs and spices available to those who aren't lucky enough to have a store nearby. Dean & DeLuca also markets its private label products to other retailers and wholesalers throughout the world.

Dorothy Lane Market Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Gourmet Grocer

Filed under: Dining


Family-owned Dorothy Lane Market has won the Readers' Choice Award in the Best Gourmet Grocery/Food Hall category.

Dorothy Lane Market
began as a fruit stand. In 1948 founder Calvin Mayne began selling quality fruits and vegetables in the south Dayton, Ohio area at the corner of Far Hills Avenue and Dorothy Lane (hence the name of the market, or DLM for short).


Mayne loved good food, and wanted his customers to enjoy the same. He believed the company should be unpretentious and have an inclusive atmosphere in which its customers would be welcome. Today Dorothy Lane Market is a company of well-known gourmet supermarkets in the Dayton area that are recognized for great food and service. Mayne's son, Norman, is now its chief executive officer while grandson Calvin, serves as its general manager. The Mayne family still owns and operates the company.

Dorothy Lane partners with food artisans and others passionate about food. This is evident when browsing its aisles and viewing the impressive selection of gourmet food products from around the world that stock its shelves. They offer an extensive selection of cheese, wine, and chocolate. Its oil selection is impressive, and includes walnut oil from Provence, macadamia oil, and olive oils from all over the world. They feature hard to find premium products in season. In seafood for example, they carry Copper River King Salmon and fresh Alaskan King Red Crab from family co-ops. Produce features golden Aurora apples, long stem artichokes, and jumbo size honeydew melons. The meat department's products are entirely natural, lifetime free of added hormones and antibiotics. Their meats include well marbled pork, free range chicken, and DLM Natural Beef, which almost always grades out as USDA prime.

The company's passion for great food is also reflected in what it manufactures in the store. Their in-store kitchens make staples including chicken salad from free range chicken and lasagna featuring their DLM Natural Beef. They also offer trendier fare such as cous-cous and lentil salads, cedar planked salmon, and asiago encrusted chicken breast. Dorothy Lane Market also employs several artisan bakers who daily bake traditional breads such as sourdough and baguettes entirely from scratch, which they sell in-store as well as online. Their bakery is famous as well for its Killer Brownie® which is sold to other fine food retailers and online at www.shopdlm.com.

Farmstead Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Cheese Shop

Filed under: Dining


Farmstead
is the Readers' Choice winner in the Best Cheese Shop category.

The company was founded in 2003 by the husband-and-wife team of Matt and Kate Jennings. They're a well-qualified duo: Matt graduated from culinary school in Vermont in 1995, worked for artisan cheese stores and producers across the country, and studied with master cheesemongers in the U.K, France and Italy. Kate is a classically trained pastry chef.

As co-owners of Providence, R.I.-based Farmstead, Matt and Kate develop close relationships with producers and hand-select fine foodstuffs, specializing in small production, limited release cheeses. As an extension of this hands-on approach, Farmstead aims to educate its customers on the subtleties and history of cheese, offering product tastings, cooking demonstrations, and cheese and beverage pairing classes.

Farmstead's signature cheeses include "Sarabande," co-designed with Dancing Cow Farm of Vermont and boasting hints of hazelnut, sherry, and fresh farm cream at its peak ripeness. Another, called "Drunkin' Providence," is flavorful cheddar washed with Thomas Tew Rum from Rhode Island's Newport Distilling Company.

The Jennings founded Farmstead's sister restaurant, La Laiterie, in 2006 to augment their offerings. Located next to the cheese shop, the bistro serves seasonally influenced meals with fresh ingredients from local sustainable farms; the menu sometimes changes daily. Matt and Kate designed the restaurant themselves, accenting their rustic cuisine with hand-made rust colored paper lights and an interior made from reclaimed barn wood, forged iron and Vermont soapstone.

For those who can't make the trip to Wayland Square, the historical shopping district Providence, to inspect Farmstead's cheeses in person, the company offers a comprehensive website along with speedy delivery options. Rest assured, the cheese will still be just as stinky when it arrives.

Zingerman's Bakehouse Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Bread Bakery

Filed under: Dining


Zingerman's Bakehouse
of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is the Readers' Choice Winner in the Best Bread Bakery category. Zingerman's is one of the 'younger' nominees, having just come into existence in 1992 as a way for the Zingerman's Deli to have their own freshly baked bread. First there was bread (1992), then there were pastries (1994), and eventually a retail shop opened (1996). Today the Bakehouse is comprised of a group of 130 dedicated foodies and skilled artisan bakers that use traditional methods to hand make all of their breads and sweets and sell to over 100 wholesale customers in addition to a growing crowd of retail shoppers.

Zingerman's Bakehouse prides itself on being run by regular people that simply love to bake, and love to share their baked goods with others. And when it comes to sharing they don't stop at simply selling bread, in 2006 Zingerman's launched BAKE!, a hands-on teaching bakery where experts and newbies alike can learn to make their own scrumptious breads, pastries, and cakes at home.

Zingerman's Bakehouse goods can be found in their in-house shop or in any number of retail locations and restaurants (only in Michigan), or you can buy most everything online through Zingerman's Mail Order.

Petrossian Wins Readers' Choice Award for Best Caviar Retailer

Filed under: Dining


Petrossian
is the winner of the Readers' Choice award in the Best Caviar Retailer category.

Perhaps the most storied of caviar's purveyors, Petrossian traces its roots to a pair of Armenian brothers who brought their love of roe from the shores of the Caspian Sea to the edge of the Atlantic in the 1920s. Melkoum and Mouchegh Petrossian migrated from Eastern Europe to Paris to continue their studies in law and medicine, but found the City of Light woefully devoid of their favorite Russian delicacy.

Since then, Petrossian has grown to become the premier buyer and importer of Russian caviar worldwide. Its Tsar Imperial label graces some of the finest Beluga, Ossetra and Sevruga on the market. To this day, the company insists that members of the Petrossian family personally select the best of every Russian caviar catch.

Fortunately for those whose appetite for adventure doesn't outweigh the appetite for quality caviar, accompanying modern-day Petrossians on a Russian fishing scow isn't the only way to enjoy their caviar. The company offers delivery, as well as restaurant locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York.

Founded in 1984, New York's Petrossian restaurant is a special treat. Ideally located for opera goers of discerning taste, it's housed in the historic Alwyn Court Building on Manhattan's West Side, one block from Carnegie Hall and four blocks from Lincoln Center. Melkoum and Mouchegh would most certainly be proud.



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