What women in their 20′s want

Retail season is in high gear, and we for one are happy for a reason to spend. In November, retail added 7,500 jobs and prepared promotion plans to keep customers shopping right through to twenty-ten. Where to shop? If you aim to save suffering retailers, the red list includes old favorites like Phoenix Footwear (not recommended), Zale, Cache, Bluefly and New York & Co. If you prefer to stick with the winners, Saks, Aeropostale, Movado, Syms, and Liz Claiborne in the black.

Louis Vuitton opened a sig store in Sin City. Talbots announced their plan to merge with BPW Acquisition Group in part to pay for their acquisition of Aeon. Talbots plans to use $300 million of their new money (eh, hem BPW’s money) to pay for the Japanese retailer. Fit experts, Intimacy, are capitalizing on “the Oprah effect” and announced their plan to expand from it’s Upper East Side location to a second store in Midtown East.

On the lowbrow, the ever-expanding Victoria Beckham will debut her new eyewear and denim collection on Net-a-Porter today.

But on the higbrow… or Highline rather. Target pop-up returns to Manhattan Friday through Sunday at Gansevoort and Washington at the entrance of High Line Park. Downtown their rejoicing that this year they won’t be forced to trek to Times Square for a taste of Alexander McQueen. Target-To-Go will offer consumers fifty gifts including limited edition Rodarte for Target a week before they hit Target stores nationwide. Only in New York do we get a first shot at a store we don’t even have. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Oops, I meant Ho. Ho. Ho. And Happy Hanukkah!

Emma Dinzebach

It’s been a hard year. Your brain is overloaded with numbers sporting nasty minus signs, your hair missed its 6 week appointment about 3 weeks back, and your skin desperately needs it to choose a season already. As if your current state isn’t dull enough, you look around to see that you are actually outshining all of your loved ones. You feel badly for them. But it’s Christmas and Hanukkah and stuff, so you decide it’s time for everyone on your list to get their glow on and start 2010 shining brightly.

For your visiting bff: Gilt.com is offering Equinox spa specials on massages, facials, training sessions and more. Each purchase includes a 3-day trial membership where out of town visitors or you (because oh, you forgot, you canceled your gym membership in April) can take advantage of the gym, classes, steam room and more starting at just 100 bones.

For your niece: Fourteen year-olds aren’t stressed! Save the massage for yourself and visit blissworld.com. There you can customize a gift box of goodies for your loved ones. Choose from staples like body scrubs and lotions or these way cool hair removal strips. Spend $25 and you get…free shipping! Your niece loves her smooth upper lip, you love the black numbers in your checking account.

For him: Your brother – Head downtown to Freeman’s Sporting Club where you can give him a $25 trim, $40 straight razor shave or a $25 hangover treatment. You don’t know what that is, but it sounds cool.  Your brother-in-law (why do you always pick him?) – Choose John Allan’s because he might be eaten by anorexic hipsters if you send him searching for Freeman Alley. A “Full Service” includes a scalp massage, shampoo, condition, hot towel, manicure and shoe shine. Your sister will thank you.

And if you have any scrilla left over, buy something for yourself something to get your shine on. Glow on sista. Glow on.
Emma Dinzebach

Today you sit around stuffing your face with more than you normally eat in a week, lie down and complain that your stomach hurts, then eat pie, pie and more pie. And tomorrow you’ll feel like shit. What to do?

Here are our two recommendations for a post Turkey Day Detox. Because honestly, Thanksgiving is a bit a gross, and come tomorrow, you’ll be in desperate need for something a bit lighter.

In BK: Urban Rustic strives to bring Brooklynites grocery items grown locally. They know where their food comes from. Fruits and veggies are never frozen, pesticide free and make your insides say “gracias.” Don’t be tempted by the burritos, although they are delicious. This weekend go for the smoothie and juice bar. Breakfast with a paradox smoothie (banana, vanilla, wheat germ and honey) and lunch with a protein-based sandie on multi-grain or vegan friendly spelt. Don’t be scared of the veggie juices. The Urban Rustic V-8 uses seasonal veggies and can be customized to your liking.

If you are one of the lucky who didn’t cook on Thanksgiving, then Urban Rustic’s grocery store offers deliciouso options to prepare your own healthy dinner and detox through the weekend. Feeling lazy? For the health-conscious couch potato, they deliver!

Urban Rustic 236 N. 12th Street, Brooklyn, 718.

In Manhattan: Liquiteria is a bit more commercial than the cozy BK grocer, but you will learn to love the efficiency. And so will your body. The pressed juices come complete with immunity defenses and kidney and liver detox. The Mr. Green is outta this world; and it might be your answer to post-Turkey sludgery. Think shopping fuel. Smoothies and fresh squeezed juices are made to order, but if stuffing has rendered you indecisive, go for the Power Pina Colada or Berry Powerful. Liquiteria is better for, er, liquids, so skip the sandie. If you aim to try on clothes, you don’t need it anyway.

Liquiteria 170 2nd Ave @ 11th Street  212.358.0300

Emma Dinzebach

Every few minutes there is a new product marketed to smooth fine lines, halt the aging process and basically turn back time. There are creams with Vitamin C, creams with Vitamin B, creams with green tea, retinol, and copper. Anti-aging products vary in ingredients and ingredient strength, and skin’s damage from the sun and air pollution, elasticity and plain genetics effect how well a given product will work for you. So finding the right product takes years of patient trial and error.

For those less patient or with more noticeable aging there minimally invasive cosmetic options. First and foremost, visiting a dermatologist to gauge the severity of your “problem” areas will help you determine which options are best. Your dermatologist will likely first recommend microdermabrasion or a chemical peel for damaged skin that has yet to show more severe signs of aging (lines, age spots, marked discoloration).

• Chemical Peel – Removes damaging layers with Alphahydroxy acids (AHAs) or Trichloroacetic acid (TCA). AHAs are light peels intended for people with less damage who are looking to brighten their appearance. TCA peels are medium peels that vary in strength and take longer for the face to recover.
• [Micro]Dermabrasion – Helps refine the skin’s top layer with fine skin scraping. It helps remove acne scars, small lines around the mouth, minor skin injury and environmental damage.
• Collagen Injections – Replenish your skin’s natural collagen by restoring contour and support in your skin. There are several types of collagen; and your physician can asses which is best for you.
• Botox – Prescription medication injected into facial muscles in forehead, between the eyebrows and severe crow’s feet. Botox is best for deep lines created by muscle use over time not surface lines caused by sun damage, etc.

Age, genetics, skin condition, sun damage, medical history and desired outcome dictate which level of minimally invasive facial treatment is best for you. In all cases, you must consult a physician for a plan of action. For a list of New York City dermatologists recommend by the skin cancer foundation, click here. Most city doctors perform the aforementioned techniques themselves or can recommend reputable doctors.

If you shop around, you can probably find Botox or collagen injections for less. But a botched job is worse than the extra cost you pay for experience and expertise. And it is your FACE aka first and most memorable thing people see, so choose wisely.

Emma Dinzebach