admin, Author at Nefaire

Redness and Dryness 101

in #skinfood, September 30, 2019

What causes skin redness?

Skin redness is caused by inflammation in the skin, which can be a result of allergies, irritation, genetics, or underlying skin conditions. If you naturally have a dryer complexion (especially common in very fair Caucasian skin types), there is a higher possibility that your skin will be prone to redness as it will be much more susceptible to irritation. Irritation=redness.

What can I do about redness?

We recommend a three-pronged approach to dealing with redness – using gentle products, watching your diet, and focusing on some small lifestyle changes.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea is a type of skin condition that causes redness in the face, oftentimes with stinging, itchiness, or both. Sometimes mistaken for acne, Rosacea can start as small irritating bumps while become more intense as flare ups occur over time.

Like many skin concerns, rosacea and redness of the skin are caused by an inflammatory reaction in the body and made worse by irritation. Those with dryer skin types, especially people with very fair Caucasian skin, are more prone to exhibit rosacea and its associated symptoms.

What type of Rosacea do you have?

There are actually 4 subtypes of Rosacea, each with its own characteristics.

Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: visible red flushing in the face

Papulopustular rosacea: looks like a breakout, with bumps and papules

Phymatous rosacea: skin thickens and has a bump-like texture

Ocular rosacea: irritated red eyes and swollen eyelids, can look like a sty

Local Founders: Kelsey of Haus of Pretty

in Q&A's, December 17, 2018

Local

Q&A

“I experienced a wake-up call moment that made me stop and analyze how I was adding value to the world and helping others.”

Kelsey is a local entrepreneur who owns Haus of Pretty, a beauty salon in Westport CT that takes a clean and personalized approach. We caught up with her to discuss the parallels between hair and skin and her motivation to move from the corporate world to being her own boss.

Check them out @hausofpretty and www.hausofpretty.com

Hey Kelsey! Thanks for doing this! So what inspired you to start Haus of Pretty?

I experienced a wake-up call moment that made me stop and analyze how I was adding value to the world and helping others. I have been licensed in Cosmetology since 2011 but had been working in the corporate finance world at the time. I have always loved creating art through hair and makeup design and making clients feel good about themselves. I realized the best way to help others was to get back to my true passion. I have worked for other wonderful salons and corporate companies in the past but felt the need to establish a truly unique concept to add value to others my own unique way. My vision was to create a company focused on custom and thoughtful beauty. My beauty company uses high end products and techniques that you would expect from a global salon with the feel of a local, community salon. We provide sustainable products and exercise eco friendly options where we can to minimize our impact on the environment as well.

I’m also very involved with JDRF and other Diabetes charities because I have Type 1. One of the events I look forward to every year is donating my time styling makeup for the annual JDRF Catwalk event held in Stamford. This year I am actually a guest speaker which is truly such an honor to be a part of. I love what I do and hope that my business will impact others in a positive way and make a difference.

For your business, what made you decided you wanted to use natural products?

I grew up eating organic and whole foods. My mom was always conscious of portioning food groups and using simple products around the house so it was a natural decision for me to translate that into my salon and beauty business for clients. I believe that quality matters and will always offer the best, most gentle options to my clients whenever possible. We carry Davines which is a sustainable, eco friendly brand originated in Italy. A friend who owns a salon in Milford uses the line and suggested it- It’s one of the lines where I actually noticed the health of my hair improved after using it. It was a no-brainer to offer what I use and support to my own clients.

What makes Haus of Pretty unique?

It’s our approach to custom beauty. Everything we do is unique and is designed to promote our client’s current and future hair health as well as provide them with a focused customer experience. Our consultations are very thorough- we take the time to sit down and speak with clients before each appointment to discuss our custom hair plans and what the best options, techniques and products would be for each individual. That’s why our service menu is a little

different than what you might expect from normal hair salons. My employees and I will always pick what works for the client’s lifestyle, goals and long term hair health.

Other than hair you also do makeup?

Yes- we do makeup applications, lessons and are available to travel to clients to provide artistry on site. We also do the best brow shaping and brow and lash tinting with a vegetarian based formula. Haus of Pretty is a one-stop custom beauty salon for busy clients. My goal was to create a company that truly compliments our clients lifestyles and that includes accommodating more than one type of beauty artistry.

Now let’s talk skin! What’s your personal skincare routine that you follow?

I stick to simple- my skin is on the sensitive side. I’ve been going to Fairfield Dermatology since high school so I always use what they recommend. For me, they recommended CeraVe face wash and Elta MD tinted sunscreen. I get facials about quarterly, use a Sanitas eye cream and always take off my makeup before bed. I also have a small obsession with coconut gel face masks!

What are your skincare tips that you live by?

Never sleep with makeup on, hydrate and always use tons of sunscreen!

DIY Acne Charcoal Face Mask

in #skinfood, November 21, 2018

Acne

Charcoal

DIY

The holidays can be a stressful time with family get-togethers (sometimes altercations because let’s be real), planning, gifts, and end of year pushes at work to make your numbers for 4Q.

All these external stressors can inevitably lead to inflammation, which if you’re acne-prone, leads to breakouts. Here’s a simple, non-irritating DIY Charcoal Face Mask that you can make right at home.

What You’ll Need

Bentonite Clay – a type of clay derived from volcanic ash, Bentonite Clay draws away all the excess oil from skin, while also helping to reduce inflammation.

Activated Charcoal Powder – oil balancing, with detoxifying properties that can bind to and draw out impurities.

Tea Tree Oil – some clinical studies have shown that Tea Tree Oil is just as effective as Benzoyl Peroxide when it comes to treating acne. Antiseptic, and antibacterial, Tea Tree Oil helps reduce the number of blemishes while calming redness.

Manuka Honey – another natural antiseptic, with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, Manuka Honey has been shown to kill bacteria while being extremely gentle and soothing for skin.

Distilled Water

Instructions

Step 1

In a small bowl combine 1 teaspoon of the Bentonite Clay and 1 teaspoon of Activated Charcoal Powder.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, combine two or three drops of Tea Tree Oil with about 2 teaspoons of clean, preferably distilled water.

Step 3

Pour the combined Tea Tree Oil and water into the Bentonite Clay and Charcoal Powder bowl while mixing simultaneously. Add a half tea spoon of Manuka Honey and mix thoroughly. The final product should be a dark grayish-black color, and the texture should not be too watery.

Be sure to let us know how your face mask turned out for you!

Finding An Inner Light with Kelly Ingraham

in Not Assigned, October 11, 2018

Sauna

Wellness

“No product will save your skin if you’re not eating a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables delivering your body phytonutrients, antioxidants and deep nutrition for your cells.”

Kelly Ingraham is the Founder of Inner Light Wellness, an Infrared Sauna concept based out of Darien. A Harvard Grad and CT native, she takes a super clean approach to wellness, skincare, diet, and design which is how we clicked right away. We recently popped up at their annual celebration, and got to have a quick chat with her about her philosophies on wellness, infrared saunas, and personal skincare picks. If you haven’t been to Inner Light yet for a session, make sure to stop by as they’re only 15 minutes away from Nefaire!

Hi Kelly, thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your background, and how you ended up in CT?

I was born and raised in Darien, CT, with a small detour through London while I was in Kindergarten through Second Grade. My parents still live in Darien and I love being close to them and creating a space for healing and wellness in the community I was raised in. I never thought I would live here – I thought I’d end up back in London or some other far away place! In my twenties, while living in New York City, I found myself missing the open space and green space of the leafy suburbs and my then-boyfriend (now-husband) would drag me out of the city every weekend to fish with him on Long Island Sound. We have settled in West Norwalk with our golden retriever Angler and we welcome two baby boys, Mack and Sawyer, this past December.

What inspired you to start Inner Light?

I had a variety of different jobs in my twenties – from communications for mergers and acquisitions to interior design to working for an uber-like delivery start-up – and nothing quite clicked with me. I have an entrepreneurial disposition, and I followed my passion for health and wellness by constantly reading, learning, and experimenting in my spare time. In the winter of 2017, the idea for Inner Light came to me and I went for it. We opened in July 2017 with the mission of bringing tools for self-care to the local community, with full-spectrum infrared saunas, our boutique and events.

Where did you first discover infrared saunas?

A few years ago I read about the benefits of infrared saunas for detoxification in Goop or another wellness-focused publication. I was immediately intrigued and wanted one in my basement! I started going in the winter of 2017 once I found out about a local place with a couple of saunas, and I was immediately hooked. I find that using the saunas improves my skin, increases the quality of my sleep, and gives me more energy when I go consistently. In the moment, it just feels so good – it triggers the release of feel-good neurotransmitters like oxytocin and serotonin in the brain. But for me, I believe half of it is taking the time for myself to sit for a moment, maybe meditate, and just create space to relax.

Have you seen any benefits with your skin because of the infrared sauna?

Infrared is incredible for your skin. Immediately afterwards, everyone’s skin is absolutely glowing. This isn’t just the sweat – the near-infrared light in our saunas has the same effects of light therapies you’d experience during a facial. Near-infrared has been used in wound healing in hospitals for years. It improves collagen production, tones the skin, boosts elasticity, and encourages cell turnover at a deep level. Beyond that, the full-spectrum of infrared light detoxifies the body on a level deeper than a regular sauna, and removing these toxins from the body will help your skin improve over time.

What is your typical skincare routine?

In the morning I splash my face with cold water and use a hydrosol from Wildcare or LINNE’s Mineral Mist. This summer I was using a few drops of Verte Essentials CBD-infused Vital Oils with Pratima Skincare Neem Sunscreen. Now that the seasons are changing, I am using LINNE’s Renew Serum with some Tata Harper Reparative Moisturizer and then Suntegrity tinted moisturizer. At night, I am obsessed with LINNE’s Purify cleanser, and I also love Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser or Tammy Fender’s Cleansing Milk when I need something more gentle. I do the same hydrosols or mists as the morning and follow with either Vitner’s Daughter oil or LINNE’s Renew Serum and Repair Face Oil. I have not been great at masks since having my twin boys but I love Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Masks and Orgaid’s organic sheet masks.

How important is finding natural skincare products to you?

Over the past few years I have slowly moved all my products from mostly-clean to all natural and organic skincare. It is so important to me to have both – clear skin and clean beauty – and it takes some time trying different lines and products to find the right fit. I also have found that that all skincare products, especially natural ones, work best when you have exfoliated properly and a facial is the best way to create that clean slate for me. My skin was so broken out from pregnancy up until about three months post-partum when I had a great facial. It was only after then that the products could really penetrate my skin and I started to see things turn around.

What is some skincare advice you swear by?

First and foremost, eat mostly plants and drink lots of water. No product will save your skin if you’re not eating a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables delivering your body phytonutrients, antioxidants and deep nutrition for your cells. Facials and infrared saunas don’t hurt! Neither do great genes, my mother has absolutely beautiful skin so I give her much of the credit!

Managing Breakouts as a Model: Kathia Bailey

in Lifestyle, Q&A's, August 14, 2018

Acne

Inside Look

Skincare Tips

“I suffered with horrible acne and tried every expensive cream, scrub, pill and ointment on the market. I found that natural products free of chemicals is what my skin needed.”

Kathia is a Trumbull native who works as a full time model in NYC. She has worked with top designers, including the Italian designer Giambattista Valli, as well as in a campaign for Pringles. You might recognize her as you navigate our new site, as she also happens to be on our home page!

An avid believer in natural products and a healthy lifestyle, we caught up with her for a quick Q&A on some tips and tricks on how she stays clear, healthy, and always on point to slay the runway. Check her out on IG @kathiabailey

Hi Kathia, thanks for doing this! Can you tell us about yourself and how you got into modeling? Was it always something that you wanted to do?

I never thought I’d be a model one day. I was always super shy in front of the camera growing up. Throughout my teenage years I spent my time behind the camera until photography eventually got me into modeling. I was scouted, and then next thing I knew I was a full time fashion model in NYC.

As someone who has to look good in front of the camera, what are some of your go-to products and tricks for keeping your skin looking good?

I suffered with horrible acne and tried every expensive cream, scrub, pill and ointment on the market. I found that natural products free of chemicals is what my skin needed. I like to use a lot of Lush products including Angels in Bare Skin which is made of lavender, tea tree oil and almonds. I always have wipes on me to keep the oil off of my face on those stressful days in New York City. I love making masks out of avocados, yogurt, honey, green tea, or lemon. I also find that going to the beach a lot starting helping my skin. Salt water can work wonders.

We imagine running from shoot to shoot can get pretty stressful. What are some of the things you do to destress and how’d you come across them?

The pace of the city is a great push and motivator but running casting to casting can be stressful. Sometimes all I need is a couple minutes of deep breathing or meditation. A nice green juice or cup of tea can do the job. I’m a self taught yogi and I carry my practice on and off of the mat. A lot of my friends are into Soul Cycle. I also enjoy hiking and long walks to stay fit.

What do you do to stay on top of a healthy diet? At Nefaire, we believe diet plays a pivotal role in how skins looks and overall well being – are there any diet tips you have to keep the bad calories away while having the energy for your job?

Life is too short to not have a slice of chocolate cake every once in a while. A healthy diet is all about balance. I love fruits and veggies just as much as I love wine and pizza. However, I do notice if I’m eating a lot of sugar or dairy my skin will start to break out. It’s super important to make sure you’re fueling and nourishing your body. I try and make a lot of healthy alternatives to kick the cravings. I love sharing my recipes with other models or anyone trying to make better eating choices. My food instagram is @MermaidMunchies.

Which celebrity’s skin do you admire the most?

I really look up to Bella Hadid in so many ways. Her skin is so tight and luminous. She has a natural glow and highlight to her.

Introducing Our New Skin Profile Tool

in Founder's Blog, June 23, 2018

Quiz

Storytime

Hi All! For those who aren’t new to Nefaire, you may have noticed our new Skin Quiz and facelift…….

For those who are new, welcome! If you haven’t checked out our Skin Quiz yet, make sure to take it for a spin!

Why We Built It

Many of the clients that come to us for facials also come to us for monthly advice on their skin, whether it’s on what’s breaking them out, what products they should be using, and what ingredients they should watch for. Being some tech-minded folk ourselves (hooray internet!), we thought “Gee, wouldn’t it be great if we could build the brains of our skin therapists into a platform that our clients could access, wherever they are?”

And thus, our Skin Quiz was born. We pooled together the minds of our expert skin therapists, data points from our clients, and the latest in clinical research to create an easy to follow, 13 question quiz that forms a digital snapshot of your unique skin identity. Our therapists use this profile to determine which combination of ingredients would be best suitable for your custom facial mask on-site, while the profile itself uses our algorithm-based recommendation engine to offer insights, tips, and relevant products and content. It’s sort of like having your skin therapist with you wherever you go, right on your laptop or phone.

Our Goal

Our goal with Nefaire is to build a skincare + wellness brand that’s honest, and most importantly, engaging with you.

We fundamentally disagree with how existing beauty brands are run, telling you that there’s a certain way that people should look, or that a specific regimen should work for your skin just because some celebrity uses it. We also think that the traditional spa structure is outdated and slow, and that we don’t need robes, candles, and “tranquility rooms” – we want Nefaire to not only be a place where you get facials and massage, but a source of confidence, knowing that you can rely on our expert advice and content to help you live well and put your best face forward.

As former acne sufferers who had been through topicals, antibiotics, crazy diets, and even Accutane, we built Nefaire to cut through the BS with honest advice, proven skincare regimens, and powerful natural products. Let us know what you think!

P.S. be sure to follow us on Instagram @skinfoodscience

Why We Built Nefaire

in Founder's Blog, June 21, 2018

Acne

Nefaire

Story

Hi all! One of the founders of Nefaire, Michael here. Nefaire was created from problems we were facing ourselves, and we often get asked about how the concept was created, and what our vision is for the future. Here’s my own backstory of how I struggled with my skin, and hopefully it can help some of you who may be facing the same thing.

My acne came late in my teen years, towards the end of high school. It was never severe, but always just moderate and annoying enough to be painful and visible. It was enough to make me shy away from cameras and feel self-conscious to not go out in public sometimes. You actually won’t find too many pictures of me during this time period, precisely because I was worried about my skin. I also wore a hoodie a lot of the time just to hide my face.

I have slightly tanner skin, so once breakouts healed, it would also leave a dark mark that could stay for months that was often more visible than the acne itself. The worst part was it didn’t seem to respond to ANYTHING I TRIED. Here’s a comprehensive list of what I tried over the years, both OTC and from a dermatologist:

–OTC Benzoyl Peroxide 10% (kinda worked, but acne still there. Made my skin extremely dry)

–OTC Salicylic Acid Wash 2% (kinda worked, but breakouts came back worse. Skin was red and irritated)

–2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide using The Acne.org Regimen (this actually cleared my skin for a short period of time, but the ungodly amounts of BP used destroyed my skin’s acid mantle, and I broke out again over time)

–Prescription Adapalene, also branded as Differin (used for 6 months, made not just my acne worse, but my overall skin texture worse)

–Prescription Clindamycin + Benzoyl Peroxide, also branded as Duac (kinda worked, but acne came back and skin was irritated and dry)

–Prescription Erythromycin, an oral antibiotic (maybe worked a bit? Not sure, but gave me really bad stomach aches and acne didn’t visibly improve over 3 months)

–Retin A (made my skin really plastic looking and irritated. My acne did not improve)

Finally, after going through all those hoops, I was finally prescribed Accutane, which is essentially the nuclear option for acne. After being on it twice, I wouldn’t get so much of the painful, hormonal pustules that I used to get, but would still breakout here and there. You can see our views on Accutane here. Right before Nefaire was started, I was working a stressful finance job where I was in the office around 16 hours a day, which didn’t really help my skin situation either. I was still getting small blemishes that were inflamed and red.

I decided to finally take things into my own hands, and decided to use that financial analytical skill set to try to learn as much as I could about acne and skincare. I looked at NCBI studies, read a ton of articles from all the major beauty publications, and sifted through vast amounts of data to finally come to the sobering conclusion that:

a.) 99% of the beauty industry is predicated on BS claims

b.) We actually don’t know that much on the biology of acne and skin

-and-

c.) Skincare is just as much a continuous thing as working out. There is no magic pill, product, or diet that will get you results, but rather it’s a combination of all of these things.

After realizing this, I set out to do some of my own experimentation to see what was true and what was actually not. Here were some of my key takeaways:

a.) if you breakout, controlling inflammation is EVERYTHING. Oftentimes, skin can look worse than it actually is because of inflammation. Many acne medications I tried tackled the bacterial side of acne formation, but I believe the most effective treatments focus on calming inflammation. This means avoiding ingredients you may be allergic to and using gentle products.

b.) Diet plays a role. Modern science is just starting to prove what has been common sense forever. Diet plays a role in breakouts, period. If someone who doesn’t have acne eats cheeseburgers and fries everyday, will they breakout? I don’t know. But I bet the person with acne who eats junk food, dairy, and highly processed foods will exacerbate their skin. Dairy was huge for me. Avoiding dairy alone cleared my skin by probably 70%. Over 85% of people today will get acne today, which is an alarmingly higher % than before. Nobody knows why, but I bet it has something to do with the hormones being fed to livestock. There’s a bodybuilder on Youtube who dramatically improved his skin by going vegan, which doesn’t seem to be an accident.

c.) Go Natural. As much as possible, go natural. Your skin will thank you in the long run. Long term use of harsh chemicals and topicals destroyed my skin texture for a period of time. Natural also means living a healthier lifestyle, which includes taking time to destress, meditation, and not sweating the small stuff.

d.) Maintaining Great Skin is Like Working Out. There is no magic product. That’s why I like facials. They’re a proven, continuous way to exfoliate, hydrate, and extract impurities from skin, and can be done over and over.

It is this multifaceted approach that we aim to incorporate into Nefaire. Expert therapists, honest advice, and “been-there” know-how using real data and common sense. No place existed with a combination of these elements, so we set out to create it.

We built Nefaire precisely for people who share this exact story, so do let us know what you think and what you’d like to see!

Member Q&A: Dana Paice, Bride to Be

in Q&A's, June 16, 2018

Members

Wedding Prep

“Ask questions during your facial! One of my favorite parts of starting my regimen with Wen was that she explained to me WHY she was doing what she was doing.”

Dana Paice is a Nefaire member who also happens to prepping for her big wedding day. We caught up with her to get an inside look at what it’s like juggling her managerial role @Indeed.com, while living a healthy lifestyle and planning for such a big event.

Hi Dana! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I work as a Client Success Manager for Indeed.com, managing a team of 9 people who assist employers in advertising their jobs. I enjoy my role because it gives me the opportunity to make our clients feel taken care of and I get to help the people I manage grow in their careers! Since my day to day is focused on excellent customer service I have high service standards for the businesses I frequent.

I live in Norwalk, CT but am originally from Cape Cod! When I moved to Connecticut I needed to step up my skincare since I did not have the luxury of being beachside and in the saltwater everyday anymore. (Salt water fixes everything!)

We couldn’t agree more about the salt water! So how did you come across Nefaire?

I came across Nefaire on google one day when my mom was visiting from out of state. We had a chunk of time to fill before our dinner reservation, so I wanted to treat my mom to a massage. Since this was a last minute idea, Nefaire didn’t have times that allowed both of us to finish our treatments by the time they closed, but remained open a bit later to accommodate us! I knew then that if this was how they treated a casual customer, I would receive amazing service as a member.

My favorite thing about coming in every month is getting to catch up with Wen and relax! My day to day is hectic but I try to remember that I can’t support the people who depend on me if I myself am running on fumes.

What are some skincare products that you just can’t live without?

Vitamin C Serum from the Drunk Elephant – used every morning to wake my skin up and keep it bright.

La Neige overnight water gel sleeping mask – used once a week on Sunday night to start the week of hydrated

Sunscreen!

Besides Nefaire and skincare, what are some other things you do you keep on top of a healthy lifestyle?

I exercise several times a week either in the gym or on my Peloton.

I drink a TON of water.

I try to eat whole foods and less sugar than I really want to have!

Any advice for some of our newer clients who haven’t had facials before?

Ask questions! One of my favorite parts of starting my regimen with Wen was that she explained to me WHY she was doing what she was doing. Once I knew what to expect, I was truly able to let go and relax and not have my thoughts distract me. I’ve even fallen asleep once or twice because I was so blissed out.

Any tips/tricks you wanna share about prepping your skin for a big event?

I’ve learned that my skin is a living thing, and just as one workout won’t make me fit, one treatment won’t give me a flawless face. It takes continuous maintenance and attention to it’s well being. There are a few day of tricks, like silk pillowcases, sleeping on your back if possible, and timing your water intake to prevent puffiness that are good to employ for important days to look your best. Honestly though, I think looking your best comes from feeling your best, so loving the skin you’re in while trying to improve it is something that goes a long way, and shows on your face!

How much do you spend on skincare?

in Skincare Tips, June 14, 2018

Beauty

Facials

Skincare

We sometimes get clients who would love to take professional care of their skin on a monthly basis, but are hesitant because of the cost. We designed Nefaire to be accessible, but we of course understand that some people may still view facials as a “luxury”.

In this article, I’m going to breakdown the true cost of getting facials monthly, and explain how you will actually SAVE money on your overall skincare spend for the year.

I want to preface this with some context – I was a former acne sufferer who had tried everything from over the counter topicals to two rounds of Accutane. You can see my personal acne story here. I assume that if you are reading this, your skin’s condition is not quite where you want it to be. When I had my breakouts, I would throw money at whatever ad, guru, or recommendation that I’d come across.

With this being said, here is a breakdown of the total spend on beauty with monthly professional skincare vs. without:

So let’s explain where these numbers come from. Part of what we try to do Nefaire is use real data to back up what we do, instead of just saying “yes, you will have better skin and save money on skincare products with our facials and advice”. Buckle up, it’s about to get nerdy in here.

The beauty retailer Skinstore did a survey on how much women spend on the appearance per day, and across skincare and cosmetic products, the average was around $8. In the northeast, this number tends to be higher, hovering around $11 for both NYC and CT. I’m guessing this has to do with higher levels of discretionary income (or maybe people here care about their appearance more?). To be safe, I assumed that on average, you might spend around $10 per day on skincare and makeup products.

Now I had to break up an estimated allocation of daily spend to makeup and skincare. To get a rough estimate, I looked at the total annual spend in the U.S. on skincare vs. makeup. In 2018, skincare spend in the U.S. is estimated as a $17B market, while cosmetics is roughly $13B. This equates to a roughly 60/40 split of skincare to cosmetic spend, and it’s how I got the breakup for average daily spends for the “No Facials” category with 6 dollars on skincare and 4 dollars on makeup.

With consistent professional facials, the number of cosmetic products WILL go down. We think a conservative estimate for this is at least half. These include cutting out the amount of foundation, BB cream, and primer and concealer used on a daily basis. Some of our clients don’t even use foundation anymore as a result of their skin texture becoming smoother, more supple, and clearer.

We also think that your spend on skincare products with our monthly facials and advice will be cut at least 30%. This is because there will be less guesswork. No trying different products, buying things that an ad told you, or buying something just because a Kardashian or influencer told you to. We recommend products based on your unique skin profile and concerns, with context and details on why data says it might work for your skin. This is how we estimated reducing the skincare spend to 4 dollars a day.

On an annual basis, this means you’ll save over $600 on your skincare by getting professional facials, because you’ll have to use less products and cosmetics.

Now, your spending habits may defer from this, and I can’t guarantee that your skin will be flawless, but as a former acne sufferer, here’s the key takeaway. When I had bad skin, I knew for a fact that my confidence was affected, and it subsequently influenced how I would perform in interviews (and how others perceived me), in social gatherings, at work, and in dating situations. What value do you place on those things?

We pride ourselves in being a combination of data, expert advice, and been-there know how to achieve great, healthy skin, built by people with the exact skincare concerns and frustrations as you. We totally get that people sometimes do facials as a relaxing treat, but if you’re serious about your skincare and the cost of monthly facials is the deciding factor, we probably won’t be a fit for you.

If you’re new to facials, give us a try and let us know what you think. Don’t take our word for it. Actually, we urge you to be skeptical of what others tell you about skin. Nefaire was designed to be transparent, honest, and cut through all the marketing BS + noise, so do take the time to do some research before buying anything, and let us know your thoughts!

A Healthier Artisan Pizza: Nefaire Member Regal Patel Brings California Concept to CT

in Q&A's, June 9, 2018

Food

Local Biz

Members

(Pieology Stamford Franchise Owners picture above: Sahil Patel, left, and Regal Patel)

Sooooo this might seem counterintuitive since we’re always saying that dairy can wreak havoc on skin. However, the pizza at the new Pieology Pizzeria in downtown Stamford (Near Cheesecake Factory inside the mall) was so good we had to do a feature – plus, they have excellent gluten-free and vegan options which taste fantastic as well.

The concept features an assembly line counter (sound familiar?) a la Chipotle, where you can pick your sauce and unlimited toppings. Your pizza is then cooked in their open oven, done in less than 5 minutes.

Pieology originated in the West Coast and was founded by Carl Chang, brother of famed Tennis star Michael Chang. The concept expanded quickly, and now boasts celebrity investors, including NBA Star Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors.

The Stamford franchise location was opened by Nefaire member, Regal Patel, along with Sahil Patel of New Haven and Nishant Patel of Danbury. Although the three share a last name, they are not related.

Sahil and Nishant are alums of UConn, and Regal graduated from NYU – the trio met through mutual connections and a love of pizza, and they instantly knew they wanted to bring the concept West after trying it out on a trip to Vegas. The fresh ingredients, artisan taste, and friendly service was met with open arms by the Stamford community last fall, bringing a healthier option pizza to the traditional fast food options available here in Fairfield County.

Despite being in the restaurant industry, Regal believes the fresh approach, customer-centric service, and excellent product draws many parallels to what we’re doing at Nefaire. With an extensive array of Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Vegan options, its an indulgence that we believe can be had without worrying about what it might do to your skin.

If dairy isn’t too big of a concern for your skin, we say go for it! (And if it is, opt for the Vegan Pizza which is delicious) Just look at those pies:

Member Q&A: Kristin Ruggieri, Attitude Dance

in Skincare Tips, June 9, 2018

dance

Members

“I’ve had problematic skin my whole life. Teenaged acne somehow transitioned very smoothly into adult acne, so I have some scarring and the texture has never been great. Now I hardly wear any makeup, and at 40, my skin looks better than ever!”

Kristin Ruggieri is the owner of Attitude Dance & Active Wear in Norwalk and one Nefaire’s earliest members. It’s a one-stop shop for all things dance, and they cater to dancers in nearly all of Fairfield County. We had a chance to catch up with Kristin and get a glimpse of what it’s like to be an entrepreneur.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I was born and raised in Norwalk and I own a retail store. I was a dancer, and I now own Attitude Dance & Active Wear, a dance retail shop, with my mother, Ginny. I’m a work-a-holic, but I make sure I set aside time to travel, mostly to Europe! I have a terrible case of wanderlust and I’m a pro at maximizing credit card points, so I travel for free a few times a year.

What’s the toughest part about running your own business? Any tips and tricks that you have for juggling so many responsibilities?

I love being self-employed, I wouldn’t have it any other way. There is a beautiful sense of accomplishment, watching something we created out of nothing become so popular in the community where I was raised! I’m so grateful. Every once in a while it gets very stressful, I’m single and a homeowner, so there is always a lot at stake…and I’m hard on myself when I make mistakes. It’s important to learn to let things roll off your back when you have so much responsibility. I’ve become much more easy-going the past few years.

How did you come across Nefaire? What’s your favorite thing about coming in every month?

I saw an Instagram post about Nefaire last year and made an appointment right away. I was hooked! My skin never looked so good, and no one has ever taken an interest the way Wen has. I’ve had problematic skin my whole life. Teenaged acne somehow transitioned very smoothly into adult acne, so I have some scarring and the texture has never been great. Now I hardly wear any makeup, and at 40, my skin looks better than ever!

What are some skincare products you can’t live without?

Aesop is my absolute favorite line. I use the Parsley Seed Cleanser, the Anti-Oxidant Serum and the Fabulous Face Oil. I also use Peter Thomas Roth anti-aging Peel Pads and a really light moisturizer by Collin that Wen suggested.

When Nothing Else Works – Our Thoughts on Accutane

in Skincare Tips, June 7, 2018

Accutane

Acne

Skincare Tips

*Disclaimer: We are not suggesting you take any drug. Please consult your dermatologist before taking any prescription skincare medications.

If you have acne, chances are you’ve heard of Accutane (or Isotretinoin). If you go on Youtube or Google, you’ve probably noticed that the general sentiment around the drug is extremely polarizing: people either love it or hate it. So what do we think about it, being advocates of natural ingredients and a holistic approach to skincare?

In general, we believe Accutane should be avoided if you can, but for those with severe acne brought on by hormonal and genetic links, Accutane is a much better option than going through rounds of topicals, lasers, or antibiotics.

What is Accutane?

Isotretinoin is a drug used to treat severe acne, typically when all other medications fail. “Accutane” is actually the first brand name that Isotretinoin was marketed under, until it was pulled off the market for lawsuits by several users claiming that the drug contributed to inflammatory bowel disease. Isotretinoin is a derivative of Vitamin A, and when taken in large enough quantities, causes side effects consistent with Vitamin A overdose, one of them being the clearance of acne. It’s the only drug that can actually cause pores and oil glands to shrink, while also reducing inflammation and the amount of acne bacteria on the surface of your skin.

The drug affects the whole body, and can be especially dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause severe birth defects. In both men and women, it can cause permanent damage to your intestines, potentially cause depression, and also potentially cause long term health damage. Needless to say, Accutane is a serious drug, requires careful consideration, and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Why take Accutane?

With all this frightening stuff, why take Accutane in the first place? Because for SOME PEOPLE, it can cause permanent clearance of acne symptoms. Not a temporary fix. We’re talking like permanent. A cure. No pimples ever again.

Sounds great right? Not so fast. The key here is that only for SOME PEOPLE is the drug a permanent solution. The official percentage in test studies is somewhere around 66%, but we think that estimate is a bit bullish for several reasons:

a.) many people take Accutane in their teenage years, since that’s when androgenic hormones are raging and where acne is most common. It’s hard to determine whether or not the clearance of the symptoms was entirely attributable to taking the drug, or just peoples’ oil glands maturing.

b.) what constitutes “clear skin” is subjective. What is medically considered “clear skin” may not coincide with the results that a particular person is seeking. Some people think clear skin means having a complexion like Beyonce. Some just consider clear skin as not having large, inflammatory nodules, but are okay with blackheads and small whiteheads.

c.) when you take Accutane, you stop bombarding your face with topicals because your skin will become extremely sensitive. You’ll stop using all that Retin-A, Benzoyl Peroxide, and Salicylic Acid Wash. At Nefaire, we actually believe that this minimalism in routine contributes a large portion to getting clear skin.

Our Thoughts

So when do we think people should take Accutane? We think there are two scenarios where Accutane can be a viable option:

1.) If you have severe acne that can be disfiguring from scarring

2.) If you’ve had chronic acne that hasn’t responded to good skincare maintenance (facials, non-irritating products, and diet and lifestyle changes). This means TRULY trying these options out consistently. Try cutting dairy and sugar out. Try meditation to destress. Get regular sleep. Do not use products with irritating ingredients. And get regular facials.

If you’ve suffered through bad acne and tried these above steps, we actually think skipping the initial rounds of topical retinoids, antibacterial medications, and concoctions of topicals can actually be beneficial – AKA go straight to Accutane. We have clients who come to us who are/have been on topical retinoids and antibacterials, and find our facials and recommendation of a holistic approach through diet and lifestyle changes to be more effective. This means that if your acne is bad enough that our professional skincare isn’t helping, we are actually not opposed to Accutane as an option as long you are working with a dermatologist you trust, and are aware of the risks.

Of course, we believe the natural and more non-invasive route is always better, and severe acne has been cured in many people through this approach. We recommend checking out Youtubers such as Cassandra Bankson, who was featured on The Doctors TV Show. She struggled with severe acne as a model for years, and through a lifestyle and natural product-based approach as recommended by an esthetician, had a pretty dramatic transformation in her skin without the use of Accutane. One of our missions at Nefaire is to use data to find the perfect combination of these lifestyle, product, and professional skincare based approaches to create as dramatic a result as this (on par with Accutane).

What do you guys think? Accutane, yay or nay?