Hot Sox

         Socks don’t just keep your feet warm.  They’re also a great accessory to add color and personality to any outfit.

         Based in New York City and started in 1971 by Gary Wolkowitz, Hot Sox makes a variety of classic and fun sock styles for anyone interested in improving their sock collection while making a fashion statement. Offering styles for both men and women, the brand specializes in pop culture and art for your feet. Hot Sox also offers a collection of “Artist Series”, socks that bring masterpieces to wearable pieces of art. Some of the artists featured on these socks include: Vincent Van Gogh, Norman Rockwell, Edvard Munch and Leonardo daVinci. The socks are well detailed and it’s easy to tell what each classic masterpiece the sock represents. Other collections include holidays, travel, sports, food and animals. This bold graphic is something that I haven’t seen from any other sock brand before. And as a bonus, Hot Sox advanced knitting methods yield the most premium socks on the market.

         To mix the style into my own personal aesthetic, I paired the green men’s car sock with a classic brown double monk strap shoe and a pair of brown tweed pants. On top, I would pair it with a blue wool blazer with a green shawl cardigan and a blue polka dot necktie. The green socks coordinate with this layered and comfortable outfit. Best of all, the vintage car graphics are a retro favorite.

         Hot Sox are a great affordable gift option for any family member this upcoming holiday season. They’re a fun, designer socks brand that offers a unique style to complete any look. I highly recommend a visit to their site and browse the wide selection of stylish socks. Men’s styles range from crew to dress socks, and women’s styles range from low to thigh high. It will be easy to find a pair that suits the personality of your recipient. And while you’re shopping, add some to the cart for yourself!

Men's Health Box

To kick off the fourth quarter of 2016, Men's Health sent me another box filled with their award winning grooming and lifestyle products. My favorite product out of this box was the Sencha Naturals matcha tea latte mix. Recently, I've been drinking more Matcha opposed to coffee because of its amazing health benefits. Some of these benefits include: protects your immune system, detoxifies the body from toxins, burns calories, reduces the risk of stroke, boosts memory and concentration and is high in antioxidants. Matcha can either be served hot or cold. However, I find it more refreshing served cold with ice. If you're interested in drinking delicious Matcha and getting 20% off to this awesome service Men's Health provides, use the code "MHBOXMVP20" at checkout to save and subscribe.

Allen Edmonds: James Shadow Plaid Sportcoat

An important part of my blog is to feature products made in America. Today, I’m happy to showcase this Allen Edmonds sport coat. Not only a high quality men’s shoe line, Allen Edmonds also makes blazers, sweaters, shirts, and other men’s accessories. As the holiday season is upon us, I encourage you to visit the Allen Edmonds website to learn about their sales and winter clearance and to discover other American made products in the Allen Edmonds line.

Here’s why I like this sport coat: Allen Edmonds tailors their high quality fabrics into a modern slim fit that looks great and provides ease with movement. I wore this sport coat with a blue shawl collar cardigan, a spread collar banker stripe shirt, a blue polka dot tie, brown tweed trousers and brown Allen Edmonds Mora 2.0 Monk Straps. This whole outfit is not only comfortable and stylish but appropriate to wear any day of the week.

United Health Care "Do Good"

            The primary focus of my blog thetieguy is to promote good style, good grooming and good health.  This week, I’ve partnered with UnitedHealthcare to promote #DoGoodWeek. Do Good. Live Well. is the social responsibility arm of UnitedHealthcare that focuses on the fact that giving back isn’t only good for your community, but also for your personal health. Do good week is from November 13th to November 19th and is all about promoting good things for both yourself and your community. The goal is to change the social conversation from negative news to positive stories.

Every day, we have the opportunity to do something nice for someone. Kindness and helping others causes our brain to release endorphins and serotonins, the chemicals that make us happy and gives us that feeling of satisfaction and well-being. Scientists have proven that volunteer work makes us overall happier, healthier, boosts our self-confidence, gives us a sense of purpose and makes us feel less stressed.  So, the more we do nice things, the better it is for our brains and our bodies.

I currently live on the Upper East Side of NYC and as corny as it might sound, I make it a habit to smile to my neighbors and make “small talk” in my local stores. It’s important for me to feel connected to my community and this is what I can do on a daily basis.  So many people rush around, too busy to even make eye contact, that these small personal connections seem all the more important to me. I often commute around Manhattan for photo shoots, events and other menswear activities and at rush hour, the subway can get very tricky. Recently, I was sitting on the train heading home and the subway became increasingly more crowded with each stop.  Eventually, I gave up my seat to an elderly woman standing next to me. She smiled and said thank you and I stood for the remainder of my trip home. To give up your seat to someone elderly might sound rather cliché but I very rarely see that type of respect on the subway. It was such a simple thing to do, but it, surprisingly, made me feel really good!  Others around me watched, but no one said anything to me. I can only hope that my small “act of good” inspired them to do something nice for someone else, continuing that sense of well being.  Being nice is not only easy, but it’s really empowering!  With “doing good” for others also comes for “doing good” for yourself.  Our society is craving kindness.  Too much of the news is bad news, fake news and negative news that pits us against each other.  We’re more alike than different and we have to take care of each other.  #DoGoodWeek is a start.  Do Good.  Live Well. is the goal

What have you personally done to contribute to #DoGoodWeek? Challenge yourself to an act of kindness and share your story on social media. Tag@DoGoodLiveWell and join the movement!

This post is sponsored by United Healthcare. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Klara Beauty Lab

Recently, I visited Klara Beauty Lab, located in the Upper East Side on E.78th Street between Madison and Park Avenue. Klara provides an array of body and skin treatments for both women and men including customized facials and exfoliation treatments.

Originally from Poland, Klara is a skincare expert who has been in the industry for many years. My visit to her Beauty Lab was for a micro-INFusion therapy or skin needling treatment. Micro needling is a minimally invasive skin procedure. Purebeau, which is a state of the art German manufactured machine used for the procedure, has a hand held needling pen device attached to it. The needles in this pen, which move at 5250 micro incisions per second, are used to puncture the skin to create controlled skin injuries. These punctures help create both new collagen and elastin in the skin. This process also helps skin firmness and texture; acne scars, hyperpigmentation/hypopigmentation, reduces pore size, reduces fine lines, wrinkles and stretch marks.

At the start of the treatment, Klara sanitized my skin and then numbed my face, neck and shoulders. This was followed by a UV blue and red light application to kill any remaining bacteria on my face. A new set of needles was put into the machine and Klara began the micro-needling procedure. I was hesitant at first but since my skin was properly treated and numb, I felt no pain. It actually felt relaxing and soothing.  She started on my forehead, and then worked down my face and neck, finishing on my shoulders.

When the procedure was complete, Klara put an overhead red UV light across the entire treatment area. This UV light helps stimulate collagen production and make skin look firmer and helps decrease adult acne. This light also has healing properties which helps in faster skin rejuvenation. She gave me a Skinceutical Phyto Correct Masque, Phyto Corrective Gel, Retexturing activator and a moisturizer sample to use to help my skin recover after the treatment. She answered all my skin care questions and advised me on how to care for my skin over the next few days. Afterwards, my skin looked red, puffy and rejuvenated. I’m so pleased with the results of this treatment and my skin has never looked better! Klara is very personable and made the whole experience extremely relaxing and enjoyable. This attention to customer service is often overlooked in bigger medi-spas and she provides one-of-a-kind treatments that are increasingly harder to find.

With this type of experience and personal satisfaction, I highly recommend a visit to Klara Beauty Lab for your own skin care needs.

Men's health box

I’ve always loved the concept of mail or waiting something special or important arrive to my home. With the rise of online subscription services like Amazon and Netflix, I believe receiving mail will soon be obsolete.

Recently, I received my Men’s Health box. This box arrives to my doorstep quarterly and keeps me up to date on all the latest fitness, fashion and grooming trends. My favorite products out of the mix were the LAFCO soap and the Clinique SPF 21 moisturizer.  The soap smells great and feels refreshing each time I use it. The Clinique product is important because SPF should be applied each and every day. SPF blocks UVB rays from the sun that cause skin cancer. It’s important to invest in a sunscreen that has at least SPF 15 or SPF 30.

Some other great product I received out of this box include some great tasting organic Fatmans beef jerky, a Kodiak portable battery, a Wurkin Stiffs leather wallet, a jump rope and a Tie Bar necktie. If you’re interested in looking your best, I suggest using code “MHBOXMVP20” when you check out. Cheers to good health!

Swissgear

This past Labor Day holiday weekend was the perfect time to use my new 24” SwissGear Liteweight Spinner suitcase and my ScanSmart TSA Laptop Backpack as I traveled by train to my family home in upstate New York.

The name “Lightweight Spinner” says it all. For a 4-day weekend trip, the expandable and roomy interior allowed me to carry multiple outfits and all my toiletries but it never once felt heavy or dragged down. The four 360 degree wheels located on the bottom made it easy to pull and move in all directions. It can be pushed upright or tilted and pulled on two wheels. Even going up sidewalk curbs was a breeze. When it’s necessary to pick up the suitcase, there are top and side handles, making it easy to carry short distances. And the material is thick and durable enough to stand up to a lot of wear and tear.

The ScanSmart backpack was also convenient for travel. My laptop fit perfectly inside the highly protective compartment. Additional features include padded shoulder straps and mesh fabric airflow panel for exceptional comfort, an organizer compartment, side zippered accessory pockets, and even a mobile phone pocket. The best part about this bag is the lay-flat design, allowing in-case scanning through TSA X-ray machines. When I choose to bring my laptop on future air travel, this feature will provide one less hassle when going through airport security. I’m really pleased with both of these SwissGear products and look forward to using them for many years to come. Happy Travels!

Spark Laser Center

Recently, I had a photo facial treatment at Spark Laser Center located on West 57th street in New York City. A photo facial is a skin treatment process that uses light-based technology to boost collagen, reduce redness, treat brown spots and diminish broken capillaries. The follow day after a treatment, new skin cells will form giving the skin a firmer, tighter and smoother appearance. The number of treatments needed depends on the condition of the skin. However, with just one treatment, I’ve already noticed positive results of brighter and more even skin tone.

My treatment was with the Candela Laser System. This laser system uses state-of-the-art light technology combined with cryogen, a liquefied cooling gas that’s built into the laser. After each pulse of light, the cryogen cools the skin preventing burns. Even when the laser was set to a higher setting, I felt no pain after each pulse. At the completion of my treatment, the aesthetician put a post laser mask over my face and poured me a complementary glass of red wine.

Using the Candela Laser System, Spark Laser also offers laser hair removal, pigmentation removal and vascular removal for men.

Happy #manscaping! 

Julien Farel Exercise Class

Recently, I took a workout class at JF Fitness located in the Loews Regency Hotel on New York’s Upper East Side. This facility is reserved only for the hotel guests.

I was fortunate enough to take this class with master trainer Christine De Almeida. Christine started the class with some simple agility obstacles, which got my blood flowing.

Then, I put boxing gloves on and she taught me how to kickbox. This was my first experience with kickboxing and what I found most interesting was how to position your body and how to successfully get the most powerful punch out of each lunge. She taught me how to jab, hook and uppercut. Each of the three different punches had a completely different motion compared to one another and at times I felt like I was dancing to my own modern choreography.

Next, came weight training, which was much harder than I expected. Christine showed me the proper way to bench press and lift weights. The final exercise, an abdominal core workout was the most challenging. After the class was over, I definitely had an “exercise high”.  I ended my session at Julien Farel Fitness relaxing in a steam room located in the men’s locker room. Julien Farel Fitness is an excellent resource for beginner, as well as seasoned athletes.  The facility offers many other weight training and cardio options I would recommend looking into.

My Laser Hair Removal Experience

In my opinion, a hairy back is unsightly. To solve my own personal issue with the amount of hair on my back that made me feel uncomfortable, I recently scheduled an appointment with Flash Lab Laser. Located between East 59th and 60th street in New York City, Flash Lab works with a plastic surgeon and offers an array of skin tightening, laser hair removal treatments, injectables and non-surgical fat reduction treatments.

The esthetic of the office is clean, modern and inviting but not too stuffy. The flashy gold elements incorporated into the décor reinforce the name of the business. Both the owners Kelly and Jenny were friendly and I instantly felt welcomed and comfortable. Kelly and Jenny are two licensed estheticians and laser specialists. They met in a laser spa of 2011 and joined forces to create Flash Lab Laser and offer something both the laser and spa industry has yet to come across.

The treatment itself was a breeze. For my hair removal treatment, they use a new state of the art laser system called Candela. The Candela laser system has a built in Cryogen cooling system that made for a surprisingly comfortable session. Flash Lab offers other beverages but the red wine I chose helped ease any laser pain or discomfort.

Overall, my whole experience was extremely satisfying. Flash Lab Laser prides itself on being friendly, accommodating and thorough. Some spa laser experiences have a factory feel to them where you are rushed to the door to make room for a slew of people in the waiting room. Kelly and Jenny leave you enough time to address any concerns you may have, enjoy a glass of wine and have the most effective treatment possible. I’m very fortunate to have Flash Lab Laser as a resource to help me with my skin care concerns. 

Lenscrafters

I recently attended a meditation event at MNDFL studio located in Washington Square Park in New York City. During the event, focused on overall personal health, I learned simple meditation exercises to practice when the body feels like it needs a readjustment. I also learned about eye health, which is generally misunderstood, and the importance of wearing sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays. I also had an opportunity to try a variety of healthy juices that had beneficial properties for maintaining eye health.

It’s so important to schedule an eye exam at least once a year. Dr. Mark Jacquot, Clinical Director & VP at LensCrafters, who spoke at the event, explained that an Optometrist can easily detect potential issues of a person’s health from a comprehensive eye exam. For example, some diseases a doctor might uncover include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. When a person has underlying health problems, their eyes may show certain symptoms such as a white ring around the iris, blurred vision, or vessel damage. Not a pretty thought.

I decided to have my eyes tested by LensCrafters’ new state of the art eye exam called Clarifye. This digitally based exam scans and maps the unique fingerprint of your eyes. This system helps doctors get a better understanding of your vision health. When my exam was completed, I learned that I have a stigmatism and that I’m nearsighted. After a consultation with a store associate, I chose a Giorgio Armani frame (pictured) for a classic look combined with a perfect fit for the shape of my face. It’s now much easier for me to read and I no longer suffer from eyestrain after long hours on the computer. 

 The whole process taught me that I really need my eyes, as I’m sure you do too! Eye health is a big deal and an exam is simple. Thanks to LensCrafters for helping me “see the light”.

Savane

Savane is a business casual men’s performance clothing brand that makes comfortable and breathable dress pants, suit jackets and dress shirts. The Premium Flex Twill Flat-Front Pants I’m wearing are made with cotton spandex that makes them a comfortable fit. And the inside has an elastic stretch cord called Activflex, which makes them easy to take on and off, giving them ease and functionality. But these aren’t your grandfather’s stretch pants! These flat-front twill pants will make you the best dressed man in the room.

I chose the cadet blue color opposed to black, because black usually feels too formal for me, while blue is a color that’s easier for me to dress up or down. For a more formal event, I would wear these pants with a pair of mahogany double monks, a brown belt, a blue banker stripped shirt, a cotton blazer and a crested Ralph Lauren tie. And for a more casual event, I would wear them with a fitted t-shirt, belt and dressier sneakers. These pants can be purchased either online or at many department stores around the United States. Some of these stores include Belk, Kohls, JC Penny and Bon Ton.

Photo credit: Drew Hall

Old Spice Hardest Working Collection Part Two

The second part of the Old Spice campaign included a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, home of Procter and Gamble. A group of bloggers and men’s grooming editors toured the Procter and Gamble campus and learned about the history of the Old Spice products and how the brand was created. Later, we went to the Old Spice factory where the actual product was both made and tested. It was really interesting to see the science behind “The Hardest Working” collection deodorant and body wash. We learned how the scents were developed, the proprietary technology used and the various laboratory tests conducted to make sure the products performed as expected.

One specific test, for example, held deodorant in a room that was extremely hot and also in a room that was extremely cold. Since Old Spice sends products around the world, they need to be tested in extreme conditions to insure that nothing goes wrong in transit to their final destination.

The following day I participated in my first Tough Mudder.  A Tough Mudder is considered a “challenge” and not a race. It’s a collaborative effort to power through an array of different obstacles as a team. Old Spice teamed up with Tough Mudder to test the performance of“The Hardest Working Collection” Along with running an 11-mile race, I climbed under a barb wired fence, made my way through a difficult set of monkey bars, carried an 190 pound man on my back for 100 yards, powered through an ice plunge, and finished the challenge by running through an electricity dangled wired mess. This was a great experience and I quickly bonded with my Tough Mudder team. After the race was over, I tested the “Hardest Working Collection” “Dirt Destroyer” body wash and I was really pleased with the result. The wash is a thicker formula that provides more dirt –fighting lather and I felt fresh and clean afterwards thanks to the green “Lasting Legend” scent.  My skin was smooth, and not tight, as it sometimes is with a deodorant soap. I also used the “Odor Blocker and Sweat Defense” deodorant with a similar excellent result. This soft/solid deodorant is formulated using Old Spice technology to trap odors and, in turn, release a long lasting pleasing scent.  The Tough Mudder event was the perfect proving ground for this new Old Spice collection and the products provided unparallel performance.

Being in the menswear industry, I pay close attention to men’s grooming products and I’m really impressed with this “Hardest Working” collection.

Also of note, Proctor and Gamble is an American company and Old Spice has been made in the US for almost 80 years. A core principle of my blog is to promote American companies and American-made products and my collaboration with Proctor and Gamble and Old Spice was an excellent experience.

Old Spice Hardest working Collection Pt 1

This summer I’m proud to announce that I’m partnering with Old Spice promoting their “Hardest Working Collection” and the “Legendary Protection for Legendary Men” marketing campaign. The new collection consists of the “Odor Blocker” and “Sweat Defense” anti-perspirant/deodorants and a “Dirt Destroyer” body wash. It’s a collection for guys who live an active lifestyle, train hard, play hard and demand excellent performance from their grooming products.

I recently traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio with Old Spice to visit the Procter and Gamble Headquarters. I learned the entire history of the brand and how each product in the “Hardest Working Collection” was specifically made. During our tour, we saw vintage products including “Soap on a Rope” and different types of classic aftershaves. Old Spice for women was first created in 1937, followed by men’s products in 1938.  And now, with 80 years as an American icon, Old Spice is the quintessential men’s grooming brand. In June 1990, P&G purchased the entire Old Spice collection from the Shulton Company.

Old Spice is an American-made product that has always been marketed around a colonial, nautical theme. The two ships originally used on their packaging were the Grand Turk and the Friendship. As years progressed, Old Spice continued to use other aesthetically similar ships on their packaging.

Until recently, Old Spice used the cheeky slogan “The Original. If your grandfather hadn’t worn it, you wouldn’t exist”. And who can forget Isaiah Mustafa, the American actor and former NFL player, who was featured in a funny commercial titled “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” that instantly went viral? Mixing the Old Spice product with silly humor successfully captured their target audience.  And now, the current marketing and advertising campaign is also designed to entertain the viewer. Featuring Old Spice pitchman Bob Giovanni, as a retro1980s TV host, talking about the benefits of using the “Hardest Working Collection” product in a tongue-in-cheek infomercial. This unique form of fun advertising and marketing combined with exceptional products makes it a pleasure to work with such an innovative company.  Visit oldspice.com to watch videos and learn more about the “Hardest Working Collection” And you can even download an Old Spice whistle ringtone. Legendary!

Mens Health: Whatever Gets You Through The Night

People underestimate the importance of a good nights sleep. It’s important to make sure you get enough rest each night so you can overcome tomorrow’s daily challenges. With the rise of over the counter drugs, men are continuing to have more and more problems getting a healthy nights rest.

Getting a full nights rest comes with many benefits. Some of these include: more creativity, less chance of becoming depressed, lower stress, maintaining a healthy weight, having a better attention span, having more creativity and living a longer life.

Before you go to bed each night, its important to not drink too much alcohol. Drinking before bed reduces your REM cycle. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement. Rapid eye movement is the fifth and last stage of sleep that occurs in the sleep cycle. This sleep cycle can also be referred to as Paradoxical Sleep. The more a person drinks before bed, the more serious the affects will be. The following morning the sleepless person might feel drowsy and have poor concentration compared to the healthy person who had a full nights rest.

Men should also be cautious about how much they eat before they sleep too. The human body needs time to properly digest nutrients and discard the nutrients we don’t need. Eating late can also be contributed to acid reflux. Acid reflux disease is a medical condition that causes heartburn, indigestion, hoarseness and asthma.

Lastly, my personal two favorite ways to settle down at night are by drinking a cup of organic chamomile tea and drinking a glass of tart cherry juice. Chamomile tea helps ease anxiety, helps relieve an upset stomach, eases muscle tensions, and helps with fighting inflammation. Drinking tart cherry juice prior to bed can help you sleep nearly 90 more minutes each night. Cherry juice is filled with melatonin. Melatonin helps control the body’s sleep and wake cycles. If you haven’t been sleeping well lately, I recommend you trying these tips to help you fall asleep faster. Good night!

Julien Farel Manhattan Man Package

Recently, I was lucky enough to stop by Julien Farel for the Manhattan Man experience.  Julien Farel Salon and Spa is located on the left side of the Loews Regency Hotel, on the corner of Park Avenue and East 61st street.

My Manhattan Man experience included a razor shave, 90-minute facial, manicure and pedicure. I started my experience in the downstairs section, which is the men’s salon, or simply JF men. I enjoyed my razor shave, as I like to stay clean cut during the warmer months. The barber was an expert and left me with no cuts on my face and neck. He used all his own shaving cream; after-shave formulas during my shave, which I thought was really interesting. I’ve never had a shave like this ever done before. This was a one of a kind experience.

Next, I headed upstairs to one of the treatment rooms for my facial. This facial consisted of cleansing the skin, peeling the skin and using therapeutic oils and steam to relax my entire system. I enjoyed this experience the most out of the three services. I felt really relaxed and calm afterwards.

 Lastly, I had a manicure and a pedicure and then was served a glass of white wine after my service was completed. I liked how I wasn’t rushed out when my service was over. I highly suggest you look into the Manhattan Man package, which I see as a great package to a spa that’s truly one of a kind.

Huckberry Affiliate Work: Crosby Square

A brown wingtip boot is a great investment that every man should own. Crosby Square is a heritage men’s shoe company that has been making quality footwear since 1867. Currently, all of their shoes are produced in a factory in Spain. With a heritage shoe brand that’s been around for over a century, I can only promise you an exceptional product from a timeless brand.

I picked the McCormick style in brown ideally because this color is simple to wear more casually or formally. I’ve always felt that black is a much harder color to mix into my existing wardrobe. These boots are Blake constructed and the insides are lined with leather. A Blake constructed boot means the stitch runs directly through the upper part of the shoe to the sole. This type of construction allows the boot to be more flexible when worn.

The details of these boots were very well executed and set them apart from competitors. The outsides were made with an eye catching pebble grain calf leather that I truly love. The laces are strong, thick and durable which gives a more rugged feel to them. In addition, the bottoms were designed with rubber mini lugs so you don’t slip when the ground is wet. Lastly, these boots fit comfortably and have just enough breathing room inside them so my feet don’t feel crunched when worn.

I wore the McCormick with a vintage brown tweed overcoat that I found for only $20 at a salvation army, a maroon banker stripe shirt from J. Crew, an orange shawl sweater from H&M, a green tweed two-buttoned Tommy Hilfiger blazer, a vintage silver skinny tie from the 1960’s, and a pair of gray chinos from J. Crew. All of these listed items are classic and can be directly correlated to each other.

In conclusion, the McCormick from Crosby Square is a great option for any man trying to upgrade his current boot collection. I’m really looking forward to breaking my new boots in. The leather will age nicely after worn and they will look even more stylish compared to how they were originally mailed to me.

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Kiehls Spa 1851 Visit

Recently, I had a great experience at Kiehl's Spa 1851. Located on the corner of East 64th street and Lexington Avenue in the heart of the Upper East Side, this uptown location is New York City’s only Kiehl's Spa and a regular Kiehl's store. At this special location, customers can purchase both Kiehl's products and various healthy skin and bodywork treatments.

During my visit, I had the Express Microdermabrasion Facial. This 45-minute facial is one of four new Express Remedy Treatments the spa is currently offering. The main purpose of this facial is to regenerate skin, restore hydration levels, improve fine lines and wrinkles, and to fix uneven skin tone. The Express Remedy treatments were designed for customers on the go and to address each of their different skin concerns.

The esthetician that worked on my skin was named Peter. Within moments of introducing myself he immediately offered me something to drink and asked me how my day was going – Great customer service! My facial was conducted in the rainforest room. During my treatment, he told me what he was specifically doing to my skin each step of the way. After my treatment was done, my skin immediately felt lighter, smoother and clearer. I felt relaxed and clear headed. Peter then lead me back downstairs to provide me with samples of the products that were used during my treatment and directed me to a store associate who rang me up. 

Overall, I was happy with my experience. I enjoyed my time at the Kiehls Spa 1851 and I look forward to my next visit.

Men's Health: SAGE by Hughes daily wins

As I grow older taking control of my life is of utmost importance. Time and scheduling seem even more mandatory and I enjoy keeping a busy schedule. I keep a calendar on my iPhone based on what I have to accomplish each day and prep myself beforehand to successfully finish each task.

A win is whatever works to make your mind and body operate at its greatest potential. Simple, yet essential, a daily win for me are the days when I eat really healthy and stay hydrated.

Another daily win is a run through Central Park. Running gives me natural runners high and I consider it a caffeine boost for my soul. Running can also be a type of therapy as I run through my problems and formulate new ideas. Although, I take the same route each time, the four seasons of New York provide a different visual experience. I enjoy the familiar sights, sounds and smells during each run and even though I run over an hour, it goes by quickly.

And finally a good night sleep is the ultimate win. As studies have shown 7 to 8 hours is one of the best things for your brain and without that my day would be like an engine running on 50%.

To prep my body to sleep, I drink tart cherry juice or a cup of chamomile tea. Tart cherry juice is rich in melatonin, a natural sleep inducer. Chamomile is thought to calm the nervous system. Both of these organic substances ease my mind and help me settle down. It’s the perfect way to unwind after any busy day.

Julien Farel

Recently, I was the lucky recipient of the signature facial at the Julien Farel Salon. This salon and spa is located on the left side of the Loews Regency Hotel, on the corner of Park Avenue and East 61st street. Upon entering the salon, I immediately felt welcomed in the spacious, beautifully lit and quiet space. The well-known French fashion photographer, Antoine Verglas, had his art displayed along the walls. The photographs were black and White adding another layer of elegance to the salon.

Stefana Marinescu provided me with the signature treatment. Stefana is a professional Men’s Grooming Specialist & Advisor who has been providing men with a world-class grooming experience for over 20 years. She’s been featured in GQ Magazine and has attracted many celebrity clients.

Stefana began by dimming the lights and making sure that I was comfortable under the sheets. Relaxing spa music was playing and she asked me if I had any concerns with my skin.

This 50-minute facial consisted of a series of cleansing, exfoliation and peels.  I felt extremely relaxed and comfortable during the whole treatment and my skin felt refreshed and smooth as a result. After my treatment, I was offered wine, tea or water and was able to continue the relaxing experience in the lounge.

Overall, the customer service before, during and after my facial was outstanding! The staff was polite, friendly and took great care of me. I look forward to my next Julien Farel Salon service and I would highly recommend you to schedule an appointment for yourself, too. Consider me one very satisfied customer!