Cheers to You in 2011

Hey Beautiful,
A toast to you in this New Year. I started the New Year with a challenge. Re-Do You in 2011! 
I will be focusing on creating a brand new you throughout this year.  Beauty is only skin deep so we will create beauty inside and out this year.   Make yourself a priority. This is my theme for the year.
One of the elements of the challenge was to get a new healthy regimen so lets be about it and not just talk. I'm here to do it with you and educate and guide along the way.
How do we live longer healthier lives? How do we add good years?

Here is how...Add:

• 5 years by Not Smoking let's see your teeth turn yellow, your voice gets raspy, you get winded easily, it gives you Cancer and your skin wrinkles and looks like a snake.
• 5 years for Power Foods can you say antioxidants..a handful of dark chocolate, a glass of red wine and fruit like blueberries along with veggies like broccoli. Yummy
• 4 years by Not Eating Fast Food decrease fat and cholesterol and stay heart healthy
• 3 years by Moving if you run 30 minutes 5x a week you'll live up to 4yrs longer, walk and you'll add 3.
• 3 years by Losing Fat being overweight increases your risk of death by 20-40%.
• 3 years by Eat Salmon 2x a week which is a personal fave. It lowers your risk of Alzheimer's disease and contains the Omega 3 fatty acids.
• 3 years by Getting Married according to studies, married people are happier and healthier. Why? They take care of each other. Men see the Dr. because their wives make the appt. and take them. lol
• 3 Years by HAVING SEX intercourse burns about 200 calories, which is the equivalent of 30 minutes of running! Which would you rather do :) It also cuts your risk of heart disease and stroke by 50% when you burn off these calories through sex. Endorphins make you happy.

You are in control of your destiny. Make you a priority in 2011.
70% of how long you live is determined by the choices you make for your lifestyle. Make good choices.

 Beauty is as beauty does...

New Year...Brand New You!

Re-Do You in 2011! Happy New Year Beautiful!
                  . It's time to make YOU over in 2011.
After the warmth of the holiday season with loved ones is over. After giving of yourself not just during the holidays but all year in your many starring and supporting roles as wife, mother, sister, daughter, bff, co-worker, entrepreneur, and girlfriend. Let's resolve to start this new year, new decade 2011 by motivating yourself into a brand new you!
I'm talking a true makeover from head to toe, inside and out. Think of it as re-branding yourself. It will energize and recharge your total outlook on life and improve your existing relationships. I will even bet that it will make you look and feel so different that you will go after things that you may have procrastinated on in the past year. I found that the only thing in the way of your goals most time is you. So I create this challenge for you this new year.

Re-Do You in 2011! It's all about you.

N2 H.I.M

Hello Beautiful,
Ladies we love our men don't we? I took a song from Toni Braxton,"I Love Me Some Him" and used it to inspire our signature men's skincare collection. N2 H.I.M the Handsome, Intelligent, Man.

Men have increasingly become aware of the need for maintaining healthy skin. When it became cool to get manicures and facials without being considered "sweet" and just good grooming habits (Thank you Diddy). We saw an increase in men taking care of themselves outside of the barber shop.

Men have a tendency to have more oilier skin than women and find that having an esthetician can clean their skin efficiently. We help them with the nuances of irritated skin from shaving and have them develop a proper cleansing regimen at home. We were pleasantly surprised to find out about 3years ago at The N2 Beauty Day Spa that men welcome the time to let go of daily pressures during regular facial visits. Men like to put their best face forward especially when their job requires a lot of client meetings.

Your image is important and believe it or not, as I always say whether your a man or woman your face is your 1st business card. 

A Woman Prefers a Well-Groomed Man... It's just Sexy.

N2 on Beauty

We are all different but the same, separated by our features and our inner makeup.- N2

The Runway creates trends and as artists we re-interpret them for our clients to wear on a daily basis. My approach to applying makeup on my clients is and has always been consultative. I teach the technique and tools while encouraging them to ask questions so they feel the most confident when on their own.
We look at our face in the mirror and discover ourselves, we try to notice what we are portraying to others. Beauty is about discovery, find a signature feature to highlight that you love. Your eyes, lips or complexion and define that look to portray the image you want others to see.Don't always apply the same colors or looks you wind up dating yourself.  Fix what you can and focus on your best features and you know what...God bless what we cannot change and love it anyway!
Don't fall prey to being trendy- follow the trend only if it looks good on you ( be truthful). Your look comes together with your hairstyle so take heed to the cut, style and color of your hair. . Educate yourself on info about cosmetic products and new tips and tricks. Take note of what you can apply to your image. Remember, beauty is as beauty does so Be beautiful and smile it captures your soul.
Happy Autumn!

New York Fashion Week

Hello Beautiful,

Kids are back to school and we are entering the fall season. So it may have you thinking of the warmer days of Spring...    If that is the case, New York Fashion Week is here! 

The trendy, classic, chic and outrageous designers will debut their latest Spring 2011 collection. This year Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week has moved to a new location where only the best of the best will have the privilege to showcase and unveil their spring line...Lincoln Center.  Ooh la la Fashion week has moved on up my darlings lol.

All of us beauty mavens are anxious to see the predictions of Spring's Color palette, for all of you  makeup trend-setters. What will be the new hot lip color? or How bold will the eyeshadow go? What shape will define Spring's Eyebrow? Are we going with a dewy glow or a matte finish for the face?  Stay tuned beautiful ones and I will tell you the forecast after I see what the over 90 designers are presenting. I know Autumn is 2 weeks away but the fashion and beauty industry always stays 2 seasons ahead. We will get back to the season at hand after this fabulous week.

BE Beautiful

What's In Your Makeup Bag?

Hello Beautiful,

What’s in your Makeup Bag? I always get asked as a makeup artist how long is too long to keep your cosmetics. Well ladies including Tenah whose makeup draw I recently dumped. Let’s take inventory of our makeup bags, bathroom counters and vanity’s. Whatever the reason we cannot seem to part with makeup after we make the purchase, even if it was a bad purchase! It was either too trendy, the color didn’t work once you got home or made you break out. It could be the total opposite, we love it so much that even when it crumbles or falls apart we still keep and try to use it. I give you the rules in this article below.

If you bought makeup and have had it over 2years even if you did not use it- time to toss!
Open and smell foundations, mascara’s, lipsticks, blushes and skincare products. If they smell funny or the formula is separated or dried out - time to toss!
Be very careful with products used near the eyes because this is a sensitive and delicate area. If you react to a product that you’ve used faithfully there’s probably,
a) bacteria in the product or b) your makeup brush/tool is carrying bacteria and causing the reaction.

For skincare products in jars i.e. creams/moisturizers use a disposable spatula instead of fingers, or those wooden Popsicle sticks we used as kids (remember those? you can find them in craft or 99cent Stores). Your makeup brushes should be cleaned once a week with a mild shampoo (like baby shampoo).
N2Beauty tip-For quick cleaning in between washes use a baby wipe or seventh generations disinfecting wipes.
Here are the rules for purging through those cosmetics products.
Makeup does not last forever beauties:
Foundation = 1yr- 18mos.
Powder = 2yrs (face and powder blush)
Concealer= 1yr
Eye Shadow= 1yr
Mascara= 3-6mos (you all are so guilty of this one)
Lip/Eye Pencil= 1yr
Liquid/Gel Liner= 3mos (Unless you do not tighten cap and it dries out first!)
Lipstick= 1yr-18mos (Guilty-you can start tossing now, good reason to hit the mall)
Cream Blush= 6mos-1yr
Eye Cream= 1yr
Sunscreen Lotion= 1yr

There you have it, tape this in your medicine cabinet for future reference. Keep your makeup in a cool place like a drawer or one of those little 3 drawer totes organizer. I personally keep my makeup in a caboodle case. Have fun shopping for your new fall makeup now that you have made room.
Oh and for that crumbled eye shadow that you love, dump it inside a snack size Ziploc if it’s too early to toss and you don’t want to spend on another.

Be Beautiful,
Nicole
This blog article has been published in the September 2-9, 2010 weekly edition of the
 Freeport/Roosevelt Times newspaper. Under the new beauty column "N2 Beauty Corner" by yours truly.

Brilliant Beauty of the month- Lisa Zure

Hello Beautiful,

We are excited to come to you this month with our newest feature. Highlighting our talented N2Beauty Clients who express their inner beauty brilliantly.
Our Brilliant Beauty for the month of September is our songstress Lisa Zure.
Lisa is a spa client who loves our Forever Young Skincare system and swears by our All day moisture lotion w/ Copper. I wanted to feature Lisa because she is a dynamic woman who has a beautiful spirit and really exemplifies our motto, "Beauty is as beauty does...Be Beautiful." She always has encouraging words or sends beautiful blessings in her emails when she is not in town. The clients in the spa love her CD and we thought it was time to allow you all to hear it too. Take a listen to what our clients are soothing their souls to.
                                                      http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lisazure  

LisaZure.com

BIO
Singer/songwriter/producer Lisa Zuré (pronounced Zoo-ray) is enjoying much deserved and long-awaited worldwide recognition as music lovers everywhere discover her distinctive and soulful sound. You can hear her music on a wide variety of radio shows, including the UK's Solar Radio, Colourful Radio, KISS FM in Sweden, and many others. The musical stylings of this uniquely creative singer fuse elements of R&B, Soul, NuJazz and Hiphop in such an intoxicating way, it can't be compared to anything you've heard before. This for me is an example of what timeless soulful music is about, a breath of fresh air... Tongue Tide also appears on the Best Undiscovered R&B Soul compilation released in January 2010 by Singapore/Malaysian record label EQ Music.



A native Californian, Lisa Zuré has also sung, written and co-produced for other very talented artists. Her 4 years in BedStuy, Brooklyn gave birth to her solo venture. Sweet Fruit, (2008, 1st Mind Entertainment) its guaranteed to quench your thirst for something sweet, sensual, mind-catching, seductive, head boppin' and possibly addictive. Each song on the EP reveals another aspect of the signature sound that has evolved from her collaboration with ingenious producer Mr.Diz (aka The Original K-Swift).
Lisa Zuré's sound is always evolving. Her next album, Music To Save My Life, promises to engage her listeners on every level... Stay tuned, for the journey has just begun.

N2 Beauty Fans support this talented artist, she gets charted everywhere in the UK!  I think she needs to be on "The B Side" with Mike Baisden because I can't believe she is not in rotation here. They are loving her up overseas. Buy the album at the link provided or purchase a single.I will say Track #3 & #4 are personal favorites.
Be Beautiful

Happy Anniversary N2 Cosmetics!

Hello Beautiful,

I have to take a moment after the "Inspiration" piece to pay homage to the Icon, Coco Chanel. Her style and the Chanel line of cosmetics is one of the many inspirations of N2 Cosmetics. The double N logo to the classic black packaging of quality cosmetics. I designed my line to be able to sit on the shelf next to a Coco Chanel line &  with her in mind. I consider our products to be of the same calibur, where quality and function meets understated glam. The intensity of our development process and classic colors with seasonal jolts of pop. Always staying true to our basic elements of beauty.  Happy anniversary N2Cosmetics

N2 Cosmetics is celebrating it's 7th year as a private cosmetics & skincare company.

Makeup and Skincare for the Bold, Alluring, Sexy, Intelligent and Chic Woman. Sold exclusively on the web, through mail order and at the N2Beauty Day Spa. This year we will break out to the masses and go beyond boutique status. Look for our "N2 Vintage" Collection this coming year.

"A girl should be two things: Classy and Fabulous."-Coco Chanel

Inspiration...

Hello Beautiful,

As you know we are undergoing a makeover on our website. We have been having photo shoots and incorporating all the new products into the new store. One day I was sitting with my camera and decided to see what I can shoot. This is what happened and I call it the inspiration of N2 Beauty. Hope you like it.

N2 shopping bag, amongst Fine Things!

traces of my lipstick!

The eyes have it.

Beautiful hues of Fab foundation with Vit E, Shea Butter & Spf18!

pot lip glosses.

Be Spoiled, come and get pampered!

New York City Girl!

etch a sketch. lol

my heart and soul in all I do!

all of these pics are actually done with makeup! The tree is a silky violet eyeshadow, the moon is silverfox shadow,
the grass is eyeliner in olive branch and the "heart" sun is a bronzing blush!

Be Beautiful!

What drives the African American Beauty Market?- Essence magazine takes a look

Hello Beauties,
As some of you are aware Essence Magazine gained a new beauty director a few months ago. Congratulations to Corynne L. Corbett former executive editor of Real Simple magazine.
I am excited and looking forward to an new perspective on all things beauty.
For all my Beauty Professionals this article by Nancy Jeffries a correspondent for the household and personal products industry (Happi) should be very insightful. Enjoy


Essence magazine takes a closer look at the issues surrounding the segment.
By Nancy Jeffries
Correspondent


Corynne L. Corbett, the new beauty director at Essence magazine, provided a timely overview of what is new, what is next, and what you need to know about the unique attitudes of the African American market. In an Essence Smart Beauty Insiders Breakfast, held last month at New York’s Time Warner Center, Corbett provided an upbeat look at what drives the market, from spending and investing in skin care, hair, and makeup, to fragrance and cosmetic procedures.

Corynne L. Corbett, beauty director, Essence Magazine (left), with Angela Burt-Murray, editor in chief, Smart Beauty Insiders Breakfast, presented by Essence Magazine.

Ultimately, this audience is looking for products that work, observed Corbett who cited statistics gleaned from recent research, which revealed that 85% of African American women believe looking good is part of life.
According to Corbett, this consumer is passionate about well being, while remaining practical and thirsty for additional information. She noted that 41% of African American women will pay more for a product consistent with her image. Moreover, 53% of Essence readers surveyed try a variety of ways to style their hair, yet, that same reader has no desire to conform to any other’s ideal. In fact, 74% believe her style is unique.

New Title...Columnist

Hello Beauties,
We just wanted to spread some you go girl! news about our Chief Makeup Artist and President Nicole Hammond. She has just received the news that she will be the weekly Beauty Columnist in not one but two newspapers.
                                                           (clap clap clap clap)
At last a voice about beauty and wellness as it relates to us the everyday consumer. We get to share with the Nassau community what Nicole shares with her clients on a regular basis in her chair, "Beauty pearls of wisdom" as we say in the makeup studio.  Her column the "The N2 Beauty Corner" will be seen in
"The Long Island Dispatch" and  "The Freeport/Roosevelt Times" both community newspapers.

Congratulations to our fearless leader Nicole Hammond as she takes her company vision to new heights in this 7th year. We love you Boss Lady.

Be Beautiful,
The N2 Beauty Glam Squad!

T.G.I.F De-Stress!! Pampering After Dark w/Cory

Friday Night July 23rd, 2010


Come and experience our "Twilight Spa Nightcap". Relax and Unwind while enjoying our N2Beauty Spa Services. Let us:

Tease your body with our N2U Deluxe Massage f/Cory

&

Rejuvenate your face with our Clarifying Facial f/Nicole

Doors open at 7:30pm for De-Stress Fridays Relax and Unwind with a Glass of Fine Wine @ N2Beauty Day Spa located at

80 Guy Lombardo Avenue The Pink Bldg! Freeport, NY 11520

Call to Reserve your Session- 516.442.1553 Walk ins accepted, reservations preferred.