beauty

Free Lovin' Disco Days- Revisiting the 70s /  by Brit Cochran

That 70s show is on again. From New York to London to Milan- the 70s themes are storming the runways again. Paris Fashion Week has not even begun and yet we can all confidently declare this free lovin' disco decade is one of Fall's top trends. 

I for one say, "Great! Bring it on!" This is one of my favorite decades. I love all things Disco. I love the psychedelic prints, and the mixed up bohemian patterns. I love that clothing, hair and makeup made bold statements.

It was a decade of extremes. There was the exuberance of disco where glamour was a large part of the show. The eyes were smouldering, the cheeks were flushed in warm crimson tones and the lips- glossy, of course! Everything shone in the lights of the dancefloor! Yet, to the opposite end there's the bohemian gypsy, roaming festivals in the fields wearing patterned tunics and romantic laces. She was easy going, earthy and carefree. Her makeup was minimal if anything at all, her brows large & ungroomed, and maybe there was a sweep sweet pastel across her lid. 

 

I'm too young to say I was there the first time. I wish I were! So for all of us who didn't live it, I've gathered together some of the fashion covers of the time. Let's get inspired, this fall its time to make a statement.

Sweet, Sweet Rose /  by Brit Cochran

Oh, Roses. To be quite honest, it's never been my favorite flower. The overly saccharine symbol of grand romantic gestures is hopelessly blasé in my opinion. The classic Valentine's blossom does have a gorgeous scent though which I most happily employ in aromatherapy. But the rose is much more than a sweet smelling thing. This eponymous bloom is packed with essential vitamins to protect and heal your skin. 

First, I recommend a bottle of rosewater. Easily accessible, you can find a bottle of the sweet smelling hydrosol at nearly every drugstore or grocery. This lovely beauty water is a by product of rose essential oil production. Rose essential oil is extremely precious. It takes nearly 60,000 petals of roses to make just one ounce of rose oil. However the water used to steam distill these rose petals is packed with just as much rose goodness as the oil itself. I like to use rose water as a gentle everyday toner. It is anti-inflammatory and ant-bacterial which means this wonderful sweet water reduces redness, tightens pores and helps to kill bacteria that causes acne. But that's not even the best of it. In addition, the compounds in rosewater help to stimulate collagen production thus decreasing damage to your skin's elastin fibers, softening fine lines and early signs of aging. Seriously, this is THE beauty secret. Its so simple! 

I have to quickly mention here the aroma- it is sweet and delicately feminine as you would expect a rose to smell. A light spray of rosewater can not only refresh and hydrate your skin, it can be used for moments when you need to chill out. Use rosewater as aromatherapy to promote emotional balance, ease nervousness and mental strain. 

For the 1-2 punch I also recommend adding a bottle of Rose Hip Seed Oil to your skin care arsenal. This oil is procured from the seeds of wild rose bushes mostly found in Chile. Cold pressed is preferred in all fine oils, especially any used in skincare, as heat destroys the vitamins you are after anyways. So what is so great about Rose Hip Seed Oil? This relatively inexpensive oil contains the most Vitamin C in any plant- far more than even an orange. The C vitamin helps to keep skin bright and dark spots at bay. Most amazingly, Rose Hip Seed Oil is the only vegetable oil to contain Vitamin A - aka Retinol. This is a strong wrinkle fighting vitamin, and daily use of this oil will stimulate collagen prouction in cells restoring the skins natural elasticity. Amazing, right? Oh, but there's more. This oil is also super high in anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids that hydrates and soothes sensitive skin while fortifying the cells against environmental damage. But it's also a light oil, which means it is non-greasy and absorbs easily into the skin. It's clear why this oil is touted as the number one beauty secret of celebrities like Miranda Kerr and Rose Byrne. 

I also recommend as a vanity addition, place a Rose Quartz where you do you makeup or get dressed for the day. This beautiful stone represents the soft feminine energy of compassion, peace, tenderness, healing nourishment and comfort. It is a stone of love and speaks directly to the heart chakra - opening the heart up to love. It gives those near by a strong sense of self worth and inner peace. These are strong supportive energies to have as you look into your eyes and soul at the mirror everyday. Use Rose Quartz at your vanity to set the intention to love yourself and be open to also love others. 

As Valentine's fades away, these three roses are the ones that will not only last, they will preserve as well.   

_____ 

Heritage Store Rose Petals Rosewater

Aura Cacia Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil 

Rose Quartz

In With The Tide /  by Brit Cochran

Tidal magazine is a top quality bi-annual book of culture, fashion, and art that is like ecstasy for your eyeballs. This killer magazine is spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Anna Wolf and Mike Perry who are both heavy hitters in their respective fields of photography and art/creative direction. They have just released issue deux leading with a cover story on Zoe Kravitz. Also within the beautifully printed pages is an interview with the hilarious broad city gals, a first hand account of an ayahuasca trip in the desert and delicious cocktail recipes among other awesome things. As if that isn't enticing enough, in between all this great content are some seriously beautiful photo stories and illustrations.

My point is - this magazine hits again and again with something visually and thoughtfully inspiring. So when Anna asked me to contribute a beauty story in this issue, obviously my answer was a uh, "yeah!" 

My assignment was to incorporate the essential oil potions I have been working with into a relevant application for the readers. Then I should represent the potions in a beauty story. This was just perfect. I had so many ideas!

I began to collaborate with Aingeru Zorita, someone I highly respect and who I thought would really help me to convey the delicate nature of this story. In our brainstorming we were getting deep in conversations about what is beauty and what aromas can describe visually. Ultimately we came to the decision to do a portrait story and I would present a fragrance for each unique character we casted. 

The shoot day came and we really had a killer team on board- some of the best in industry, in my opinion. Styling for us was Angela Esteban Librero. Andre Gunn was doing hair, and Aingeru of course taking the photos. We were so lucky to also have Tara Trullinger from Get It Productions on set keeping us all happy. (Thanks Tara!)

There were some beautiful vibes in the studio that day! To welcome our talent into the shoot I made lavender & yogurt masks for them that made their faces glow. The ladies really enjoyed the ritual; that kind of pampering doesn't happen that often for them actually. We also scented the set by burning Palo Santo to keep us all grounded in the moment. Everyone got to sample the fragrances before starting as well.  

Sure, you might be thinking that is a lot of voodoo for a shoot. But the result speaks for itself! The photos are rich with emotion-  so much so that I can't stop staring. And from the beginning that's what Aingeru and I wanted- a beauty story that you couldn't take your eyes off. 

Many many thanks to the whole team!! 

Aingeru Zorita, photographer + Angela Esteban Librero, stylist + Andre Gunn, hair + Alina Zakaite, casting + Tara Trullinger, Production + Models: Alex Crush (Major), Jennifer Medina, Alexandra T (Wilhelmina), Mary M (Major), Nejilka Arias (Major), Ashley Turner (Supreme).

____

Take a deep breath. 

Imagine inhaling an intoxicating, alluring scent. Fleeting though it may seem, something happens when you do it, and you feel different. This is no accident. Natural-oil fragrances are powerful substances, and for centuries they have been used to cast spells on our emotions. Twigs, bark, fruit, and resin are concentrated through distillation allowing for the extraction of potent chemicals, each containing compounds with mind-bending properties. Their influence lie in a single drop. 

With a small stock of oils you can mix up a potion that will spice up a date, help you melt into nature and meditate, or stimulate joy and positive action during the long dark nights. Go on, cast your own spell. 

Purify

Cleanse your aura and prepare your mind for winter with this heady mix. The clarifying woodsy aromas of juniper and cedarwood will ground your thoughts and help combat negativity; lavender and rose work to relax and center the mind.

Cedarwood Atlas / 5 drops   Juniper Berry / 5 drops   Lavender / 3 drops   Rose Otto (3%) 

Melt

Sink into quiet relaxation with this sedating mix of oils. Heavy and earthy vetiver dispels irritability. Chamomile, one of the best-known calming herbs, combined with marjoram will put even the most anxious person at ease.                                                                                              

Vetiver / 8 drops   Marjoram / 6 drops   Juniper / 8 drops   Chamomile Roman / 1 drop

Create Magic

Spicy oils blend especially well with citrus scents. Here, clove and black pepper, two warming and energizing oils, complement the happy-go-lucky nature of sweet orange. Add myrrh to enhance spirituality for a fragrance that will lead you happily into your ever after (at least temporarily). 

Sweet Orange / 9 drops   Clove / 5 drops   Myrrh / 7 drops   Black Pepper / 1 drop

Love Potion

Mix up a blend of powerful aphrodisiac oils. Spicy and sweet, the oils of nutmeg and ginger warm the body and stimulate the mind. The complex aroma of neroli is radiant, relaxing, and refreshingly floral. Adding rosewood will lift your spirit.

 Nutmeg / 16 drops   Ginger / 1 drop   Neroli / 3 drops   Rosewood / 4 drops

Get Something Started

Bergamot, the most trusted oil for treating depression, is the very best scent to wipe away the winter blues. Add sweet orange to intensify the uplifting effect and a few dashes of black pepper to get your thoughts flowing. Something fun and mischievous will follow!

 Bergamot / 16 drops   Black Pepper / 6 drops   Sweet Orange / 1 drop

___

Buy Tidal Magazine online here or at -

Coming Soon - NYC
People of 2morrow - Brooklyn
Grand St Bakery - Brooklyn
Park Deli - Brooklyn
McNally Jackson - NYC