Katie's Simple Approach to Beauty

“I am so obsessed with raw coconut oil. ”

 "I am so obsessed with raw coconut oil. I like the Dr Bronner's brand which you can get at Whole foods. If you leave it by your shower it melts into oil and is great for moisturizer and natural chapstick. I also put it in my smoothies because it's a wonderful source of fiber and helps with digestion. Another great trick is adding salt to it and using it as an exfoliant in the shower. Its purposes are endless and it's really inexpensive. I don't think people realize coconut oil contains a unique combination of fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties. 

Omg I forgot it's also great to use on the ends of your hair after the shower. Makes your hair shiny and reduces split ends. It's my Must-have and Go-to product!"

http://katieschecter.com/

http://www.thehenrymillers.com/

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Stefania's Beauty Minute

As women we are a mass of contradictions. We want to look amazing and want to be respected for our brains. Last week we asked powerhouse blogger, femme-preneur and mother of three, Stefania Pomponi to tell us a little about her beauty regimen. Little did we know she could write an entire book on the topic if she wanted to!

Here are her Beauty Favorites and her Daily Must Haves including her Favorite Drug Store Finds.

Don't forget to leave a comment and tell us your own favs! (Click on the collages to enlarge)

Busy mom

Below is Stefania's complete list, (asterisks indicate all her important drug store finds!) :

HAIR

Shampoo & Conditioner:

Kevin Murphy Born Again Wash

Kevin Murphy Born Again Essential Treatment

Styling Products:

Proof Satin Hair Serum (best defrizzer)

It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-In Product*

Drybar Money Maker Flexible Hairspray

BODY

Dove Deep Moisturizing Body Wash* [I get this at Costco]

Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil (apply on damp skin while in shower)

La Mer The Reparative Body Lotion

Bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter (I use the La Mer every other day because it’s pricey--but its effects can last two days) [Bliss is often found at Nordstrom Rack for a great price!]

FACE

Cleansing:

Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam

Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Ginseng Exfoliating Gel or (2x week)

Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub*

Neutrogena MakeUp Remover Cleansing Towelettes* [I get these at Costco]

Moisturizing/Protection (Day):

L’Oreal Revitalift Face & Neck*

AmorePacific Rejuvenating Eye Treatment Gel

Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Face Sunblock Lotion*

Moisturizing/Protection (Night):

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Cream

Note: I alternate AmorePacific with:

La Mer Serum de La Mer The Regenerating Serum

La Mer Creme de La Mer Ultrarich Cream

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night*

MAKEUP

Depending on day/night I use one of these primers:

Smashbox Photofinish Primer

Revlon Revitalift Moisture Blur*

Revlon Skinlights Face Illuminator* (night)

Foundation/Concealer:

Makeup Forever HD Foundation

Bobbi Brown Corrector

YSL Touche Eclat

Powder:

Urban Decay Razor Sharp Ultra Definition Finishing Powder (loose)

Makeup Forever HD Powder (pressed)

Cheeks:

Nars Blush

Eyes:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Urban Decay Naked Basics & Naked2 Palettes

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil various colors (“Perversion” is the darkest, blackest black around...LOVE)

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara “Carbon Black”*

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Fix

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz (the best eyebrow pencil you can buy)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder*

Lips:

MAC “Russian Red” (classic red)

NYX Butter Gloss* various colors

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm, Matte Balm, and Balm Stain* (amazing)

Maybelline Baby Lips* (for sheer, moisturizing color)

Other fun tips:

Urban Decay All-Nighter Makeup Setting Spray helps keep your finished makeup in place and looking fresh.

NYX Roll-on Shimmer: I mix this with lotion and rub on my legs when I wear dresses at night. Give them a bronze sheen that looks like you are wearing nylons but you’re not.

Ardell #110 false eyelashes are a staple of my night-time look. Very light and natural looking but still makes your eyes pop!

LIT Cosmetics Holograph Lit Kit (essentially glitter powder that you can use on eyes/face/body) is also a staple of my night-time look. It’s the very best glitter-shadow.

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Selfies by Stefania.

Artwork by Wati.

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Laila Munif - Damascus as I remember it.

Every day we hear news of the the Syrian refugee crisis and the unprecedented suffering of the Syrian people. We asked our friend Laila Munif to share her feelings about her Syria.

When we discussed the pictures that might be included in this post, she wistfully remembered the beautiful ancient theater at Bosra. "At night we would drink our arak (Arabic pastis) in the Amphitheater, sing on the stage & watch the stars. How I miss those days! Now...not one day goes by without a tear."

Here is her reflection

Theater at Bosra

When I was growing up in the Middle East, my family had to flee from wars twice. First due to the Lebanese civil war in 1975, and again shortly after when we were living in Iraq and the Iran/Iraq war started in 1981. My Dad was the editor-in-chief of a petroleum journal at the time. He had few options available to him. Either return to Syria and live under a dictatorship, or find a new country to settle in for few years with a wife and 4 kids. My father, an ambitious novelist decided to transit somewhere in Europe.

We landed in Paris when I was 6 years old and we stayed there for six years. It was in Paris where my Dad wrote his masterpiece novel ”Cities of Salt” in 1986. This five volume novel depicts the impact of oil in the Arabic Peninsula and its repercussions on the Bedouin society. 

France was a safe place for us to grow up. We became fluent in French and my Dad was very productive with his writings. But it was not home for my parents. They felt the urge to be closer to their families and friends. My Dad was ready to end his life in exile. It was crucial for him to describe the plight of his people while living amongst them. In 1986 we returned to Damascus and he wrote three novels depicting prisons and the torture endured by the political detainees.

I was 11 years old at the time. My siblings and I started to build a deep affinity for our country of origin and our Arabic language skills quickly improved. We discovered a passion and interest for this rich culture.

Old Damascus.

I spent most of my time with my schoolmates who were mostly from France and other European countries. After school I had lots of free time to go to the old market, or souk, visit landmarks like the Umayyad Mosque, and wander in the old neighborhoods. I would sip cup after cup of tea in old Damascan courtyards with friends. I have such fond memories of those days. I would then return to our home that had become an intellectual oasis where novelists, painters and drama writers would meet and discuss their concerns and their love for their region. In the typical fashion of the region, my Mother would often cook fantastic dishes for the multitude of guests that showed up every night.

We met many persecuted artists living far away from their countries because of their political affiliations and ideas.

Those special relationships with artists from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Jordan was the way I was introduced to Arabic contemporary art. My Dad collaborated with some of these friends and wrote books about their artistic journeys.

Damascus.

Archeology was also another of my Dad’s passions. He transmitted that passion to me by taking us to archeological sites in both Iraq and Syria. During holidays we would drive and discover the History of the People of Ugarit where the first alphabet in the world was discovered. We would also visit the Roman amphitheaters in Jerash and Bosra, as well as the Byzantine ruins, citadels, fortresses of the crusaders, and other Islamic archeological sites. As a result, I ended up majoring in Archeology in 2000 from the Lebanese University of Beirut.

Despite the political oppression, we grew up feeling happy, secure and with very strong family ties. I enjoyed my childhood tremendously. I’m proud of my Syrian heritage, its history and culture. And these days, it is with deep sadness that I witness its destruction.

Laila, her father Abdul Rahman Munif and her mother Souad.

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Personal family photo provided by Laila.

Other photography by AWIB (Ancient World Image Bank) Erik Hermans.

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Doublevisiontwinsblog on Good-Business New York

STOP PRESS STOP PRESS

We at DoubleVisiontwinsblog are happy to announce our new weekly column on Good-Business New York (Good-b.com). Taken from our weekly contributions on DoubleVision, the blog posts will focus on women & the economy with a particular view of female entrepreneurs.

Our pieces are jointly curated and a true collaboration: Yanti, former international lawyer for global investment banks in Asia and now the proprietor of highly successful EarthYoga on the Upper East Side, is the writer of the family and acts as Editor, while Wati Grossman, who lives on the “other coast” a.k.a Silicon Valley, is our Head of Layout and Design and all visuals. The founder of a popular national girls’ clothing design company (WatiDesign) and mom of two, Wati is the Artist-Creative Guru of the family. Originally from Australia, we love travel, health, style and business. We are delighted to bring you memorable posts about women of all ages and persuasions who inspire, question, interpret, and lead through entrepreneurship.

Thanks to these sources for some lovely images of women on the go:  http://www.whowhatwear.com/ & http://www.lovely-pepa.com/

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