GOOD SENSE

A little vanity never hurt anyone.  A little volunteerism helps a lot of one…

SMELL GOOD

Banana Republic, the most reliable store for fab fashion and accessories locally has introduced its first new  fragrance – for men and women - since 2005.  Good things come to those who wait.  Banana Republic stores (Sea Girt, Shrewsbury, New York City) and online. 

LOOK GOOD

A fancy-pants friend in the beauty biz told me that big beauty companies like Olay (Procter and Gamble) have the most research and development money, are moreso on the edge of technology and thus develop the best mainstream beauty products for the money - from lipsticks to anti-aging miracles.  Olay’s new Regenerist Eye Roller delivers.  Yes, straight guys, even for you.  Olay makes its packaging asexual, with you in mind, too.  Available everywhere, however cheapest at Costco and Olay.com.

 

DO GOOD

Log on to Serve.gov and learn about volunteer opportunities in the greater Asbury Park area.  If you run a non-profit and are looking for volunteers, you can resister your project on the website. 

Someone once said, “You can learn more about a person by looking at their calendar and checkbook, than anything else.”  Interesting.

Richard@TheBPlot.com

THEBPLOT = THE AREA’S MOST-READ FEATURES SITE

BEACH AND BEYOND

SunMate UV Index Monitor

Forget relying on Sam Champion to learn the UV index at the beach.  The SunMate™ UV Index Monitor enables you to measures the intensity of the sun’s strength wherever you are.  At just 2.5″ tall and 2″ wide, The SunMate™ is easy to use and understand, as it measures the sun’s intensity at the push of a button – the product’s LED indicators light up between 1 and 5, depending upon the intensity of the UV light.  CVS.com and  PurelyProducts.com.  $19.95.

 

Banana Republic Beach House Candle

A great Road Trip hostess gift.  Top notes of beech tree leaves, sunny marigold, purple wisteria and honeysuckle nectar mingle with mid notes of English lavender, blooming white hydrangea, lily pond lotus and pink peony petals. The scent is grounded in a base of plush oakmoss, sun-bleached teak wood, burnished sandstone and South Hampton (or New Jersey Shore) hedges, stirring the senses and transforming your environment into a seaside cottage.  $24, 7.4 oz candle.  Banana Republic stores.

 

 

Hermes Beach Towel

Beyond luxury for fancy-pants Road Trip visitors, the Hermes “Top Towel”, 60″ long by 37″ wide.   $459.  BlueFly.com

Richard@TheBPlot.com

THEBPLOT – THE AREA’S #1 LIFESTYLE WEBSITE

SURFING THROUGH THE 4TH

Cheers to fireworks and a fun look at city surfing style this holiday weekend, with the help of long-time wave rider Chris D’Antuono of Long Branch.

“The trend in boardshorts this summer is ultra-lightweight and quad-stretch fabrics in vibrant patterns,” said Vince Troniec, surf department manager at Spellbinders and surf instructor.  “It’s a pleasure to wear and nice in the water even if you are not an avid surfer.  Oakley’s got great suits and quality.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris wears Oakley’s Micronauts, Tilt and Interlock boardshorts, respectively. 

Oakley boardshorts, shirts, sweatshirts and footwear available at Spellbinders and Oakley.com.  Create your own sunglasses at Oakley.com.  Beach accessories available at Cabana, Swell, Lightly Salted and Style Rocket on the Boardwalk. 

Briefly: Five years ago, the Fourth of July fireworks and all the amazing positive and exciting energy surrounding the weekend was the deciding factor for me to move here.  It’s been an honor to see the city – including the fireworks – grow even more spectacular each year. 

A very special memory for me in 2006 was watching the fireworks from the Berkley’s roof, thanks to my dear friends Ann and Somer Stephenson.  After a great party in Ann’s room (she is one of the best party throwers hands down), a few friends and I snuck up the utility staircase to the roof. 

I can not even tell you how spectacular the view was both of the fireworks, the stars in the sky and the crowd below.  We stood there in silence – no sounds but the ka-booms and crackles of the show.  We could see south for miles and the sea breeze was perfection. 

Surrounded only by people we cared about.  All of us on the roof knew we were having a exceptional, spontaneous Asbury Park moment never to be duplicated.  It’s one of my favorite private Asbury Park memories and I will be always grateful to Ann for that moment.  I still see the fireworks when I close my eyes and am so thankful.  

THEBPLOT – THE AREA’S MOST VIEWED LIFESTYLE WEBSITE

FRAGRANCE FIREWORKS

Nothing is sexier than a guy that looks crisp, clean, lightly tanned and smells good during hot shore days and nights, July and August.  Four of our seriously fave fragrances guaranteed to ignite something special. 

KITON BLACK

A tailored, romantic and masculine, artisan-crafted scent from one of the world’s most exclusive men’s suit makers ($7,000 off the rack, $21,000 custom).  Kiton Black leverages fields of the finest-quality ingredients, Italian bergamot, lemon and violet leaves, Cyclamen, Cardamon, Veviter and leather to create this luxe, elegant and original scent.  $65, 2.5 oz. Eau de Toilette.  Neiman-Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Kiton NYC.

 

CLINIQUE HAPPY FOR MEN 

Very much the ultimate guy’s shore fragrance - taking fresh and clean and creating a spark.  The scent stays light and crisp and cool without heating up and changing like traditional men’s fragrances.  It’s reminiscent of a night out in the warm, breezy beach air wearing a perfect linen shirt and seersucker shorts.  A blend of tart Kaffir Lime and the exotic Kalamanzi fruit morphed with Mandarin and Yuzu and a combination of blond woods including Cedarwood, Mediterranean Cypress and Guaiac, keep Happy’s light balance throughout your night out.  $47, 3.4 oz EDT.  Clinique counters nationwide.

CORDOVAN by BANANA REPUBLIC

Fashion to fragrance – you can never go wrong with Banana Republic and its sales recently have been amazing.  Cordovan is a light, masculine, clean scent of ebony spices, vintage leather, iced lavender and nutmeg presented in a gorgeous wood box.  With four stores in our area our friends at Banana Republic make it easy to smell great – especially with this summer steal: buy any two 7.5 ml EDT bottles of the seven fab fragrances (men or women) for $15.  $45, 50 ml EDT.   Banana Republic stores everywhere.

DKNY MEN

Unique.  Strong.  Soulful.    Inspired by all New York City (or our city) has to offer…the energy – Bergamot and mandarin…the emotion – spicy white pepper and Cardamom and wet Jasmine…the guy – Cedarwood and Patchouli…and the twist – Orris and Vetiver.  $65, 3.4 oz EDT.  Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor and Sephora.   

 

Richard@TheBPlot.com

THEBPLOT – THE AREA’S #1 LIFESTYLE SITE

SUMMER HOT STUFF

Best of the best for gorgeous summer days and nights.

La Prairie Cellular Self Tan with SPF 15

Your face and body luxuriously taken care of – in one bottle.  Formulated to retexturize and smooth skin with a one of a kind controlled release system that ensures you an even, gradual, instant gratification tan – simply.  It smells fabulous, too.  $115 

and…

LaPrairie Celluar Nuturing Complex

Coupled with buckets of Voss water, this is like a big comfy hug to your skin after a day on the beach or on the Watermark deck.  The two-in-one bottle contains the ultimate in anti-redness calming care in both a balm and serum.  $255.

 

laprairie.com

Clinique

I’ve been using Clinique suncare for years and it always delivers with a clean and light line of ahead-of-the-curve sun protection.  This year, products feature SolarSmart protection technology and antioxidants activated by the sun that prevent and heal skin damage.  The face cream SPF 30 is in my car, murse and beach bag.  $17.50

 

 clinique.com

 Olay Daily Facials Express

 Ultra handy and easy when you are done with the beach but ready for the Beach Bar and dont have time to change.  No water needed.  $6 

 

olay.com

Ole Henriksen All Purpose Aloe Vera Gel

Best quality, pure and perfect finish to a day on our beach – recently named one of the best on the east coast.

 

 

olehenriksen.com

ME-SO SKINNY!

As we embrace the first days of spring, I wanted to reveal the biggest secret that will be on the beach this summer.

A ton of those smoking-hot bodies soon to adorn the best beach on the New Jersey shore and Paradise pool are turning now to mesotherapy – a natural body contouring treatment – to achieve that ultra masculine and feminine silhouette we love to love so much in July.

“Mesotherapy is a technique where medication is injected into the mesoderm layer of fat in specific desired areas,” said Dr. Neil Rosen of Preventive Medicine of Monmouth. “The medication used is completely safe and naturally found in the body; we just use it in a very concentrated form.”

It’s vanity’s secret weapon.

Based on individual requirements, the doctor selects a mesotherapy formula that, when injected into the “problem” area slowly diffuses into the fat and breaks it down.

The number of treatments required varies depending on body type and personal aesthetic goals. For the average person, the results last for about 12 months when combined with exercise and a decent diet. Then, a patient goes for easy maintenance “touch ups.”

Mesotherapy was invented in 1952 by Dr. Michel Pistor. Today, 50,000 physicians worldwide offer mesotherapy treatments for a variety of medical issues. About 2,000 of the doctors are in the U.S.

The French Academy of Medicine recognized mesotherapy as an “inherent part of traditional medicine” in 1987. The FDA is conducting its first mesotherapy body contouring clinical trials, according to a recent statement by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

I know of almost 20 area men and women who have chosen mesotherapy – also called Lypolysis and Lipodissolve – instead of scary liposuction. Dr. Rosen has “hundreds of patients” in the greater Asbury Park and shore area.

“I would never let anyone cut me open unless there was no other option for my health,” said one Asbury Park male meso lover. “Liposuction should be a last resort. Mesotherapy is the perfect alternative for me.”

The treatment works best on people who have fat pockets to be eliminated around the stomach, flanks, arms, thighs, eyes, back and chin. It has been reported that Britney Spears, Demi Moore, Jennifer Aniston, Matt Damon and many other bold-faced names rely on mesotherapy treatments.

“Mesotherapy does not traumatize the body like surgery does,” said Dr. Rosen. “There is no scar tissue, residual effects or down time post-treatment.”

If figuring out what cosmetic procedures people have had was an Olympic sport, I would be on the cover of a Wheaties Box. Mesotherapy great because it is so subtle even a trained eye has difficulty telling that a person has undergone treatments.

And that makes for a great summer secret.

Call Diane at Dr. Rosen’s office for more info: 732.219.0894.

Other hot vanity products your neighbors are not telling you about:

Anything by Olay – especially the Rejuvenating Serum (cheapest at Costco) and the Pro Vital line.

Neutrogena sun protection and sunless tanning products.

Alford and Hoff men’s ultra-luxury skin care products. Everyone from Joe Theisman to Elton John depends on this line to look younger and camera-ready.