As the awards shows start to heat up as hot as the red carpet light, the lines between youth and middle-age are becoming blurred and perhaps disappearing altogether.
A new line of K-Beauty products is always a reason to get excited! MIZON just released their Phyto Plump series, which helps encourage youthful, hydrated skin using collagen. The line is vegan, and heals skin irritation and decreased elasticity using “Tremellan-MC Extract (known for suppressing free radicals, increasing the synthesis of collagen and moisturizing deep within the skin), Brown Algae Complex (known for retaining moisture, being high in proteins and suppressing inflammation) and D-panthenol (a provitamin of D-pantothenic acid that provides deep and long lasting moisturization, heals irritation and abrasions and improves luster and shine).”
I tried out five products in the range, the Toner, Serum, Day Cream, Night Cream, and Eye Gel patches, over the last month to see how they reacted to my skin.
First, I applied the Phyto Plump Collagen Toner right after cleansing my skin. While it was still a bit damp after drying, I poured a few drops of the toner into my hands and patted it into the skin. This toner feels almost like an essence, with a slightly thicker than water consistency. It feels luxurious and locks in the moisture, definitely leaving my skin looking plumped up and hydrated. Since I have normal skin and it’s not quite the dry winter season yet where I live, this toner was all I needed to quench my skin in the morning before I put on my sunscreen and makeup to head out the door.
Sometimes, when I wanted more dewy plumpness, I reached for the Phyto Plum Collagen Serum. It’s designed to “provide a dewy finish without the stickiness” and is lightweight enough to use during the daytime – it sinks right into your skin and feels like a more concentrated, thicker version of the toner. I noticed that my skin stayed hydrated and dewy all day when I used this product, and provided the perfect base for more “harsh” skincare treatments like retinol in the evening.
The next set of products in the line are the Phyto Plump Day Cream and the Phyto Plump Night Cream. Both incredibly hydrating, these products are well suited for dry skin or for winter routines. The day cream was unique because of its gel texture, yet it’s not a lightweight cream. Most gel moisturizers aren’t hydrating enough for dry skin, but this one will give you the cooling, non-tacky benefits of a gel cream while still providing the ample hydration for dry skin. The night cream is incredibly emollient, and almost feels like an overnight mask. I love using this to seal in my skincare treatments and make sure they’re at their maximal effectiveness, and then waking up with baby-soft, hydrated skin.
The final product in their Phyto Plump line is the Phyto Plump Gel Eye Patches. This was a new product for me in the rotation, since I’ve only used the single packets before for special occasions. The cooling slice of silicone sits comfortable under your eyes whether you sit back and relax or go about your other tasks, which is incredibly convenient for those on the go. I loved using these before heading out for the evening to meet friends for dinner or to an event. They leave your under eyes brightened, refreshed, and of course: plump. The patches left a nice layer of product even after I took them off, which left the perfect canvas for blending concealer seamlessly for a night out. I found these patches so fun to use, since they were outside my daily routine before I tried these products, and I might have to add them back in!
MIZON’s new Phyto Plump line is available on Amazon as of November 1st, and they also have lightning Black Friday deals:
- MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Gold Eye Gel Patch will be 37% off and MIZON All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml) will be 25% off on November 25th from 8:35 AM PST to 8:35 PM PST
- Prime Exclusive Discount – MIZON Goodbye Blemish Soothing Gel Cream, Goodbye Blemish Fresh Toner, Goodbye Blemish Pink Spot, Cicaluronic Moisturizer, Collagen Miniature Set and Niacinamide Smoothing Body Lotion will be 20-35% off November 24th through November 28th, for prime members only.
Pop the champagne, Alexis Lauren is now open in the Coral Gables neighborhood of Miami. The Knockturnal was honored to be invited and get an exclusive first look at Alexis Lauren Collective.
Alexis Lauren Collective, a medically-backed luxurious beauty destination was founded by husband-and-wife duo, Dr. Michael and Alexis Renda, the Alexis Lauren Collective aims to redefine high-end aesthetic skincare in a modern beauty collective, marrying injectables with bespoke skincare treatments in a self-care sanctuary.
Alexis Lauren Collective’s approach is personalized to each client, with results-driven, medical-grade services. At the Collective, the team believes in offering what is best for you in the moment, satisfying varying skin desires, and generating transformational results. Clients can receive treatments through individual visits, or through a monthly membership in which clients receive monthly custom treatments, exclusive pricing, and members-only perks. Services that will be available at launch include injectables, custom facials, microneedling, and chemical peels using premium products with medical-grade devices and technology.
With regard to product, the “Collective Cabinet” comes complete with trusted, scientifically proven brands to complement on-site treatments, including cult-favorite Biologique Recherche, Skinbetter Science, iS Clinical, and more. Alexis Lauren Collective will also house devices that offer the finest methods of skin refinement, like Oxylight Ionix, in addition to an array of facial equipment from LED to microcurrent, and more. Guests at this event all received samples from Biologique Recherche to enjoy.
“My husband Michael and I came together to fill a void we saw in the skincare space: an ultra-luxe beauty collective that cares as much about its members as it does results,” said Alexis Renda, co-founder of Alexis Lauren Collective. “Our service menu is tailored to serve the client, not overwhelm them.”
Co-founded by trauma surgeon Dr. Michael Renda, his medical background strengthens the backbone of the business model along with the team of specialists presiding over the Collective.
“The ability to take care of patients with catastrophic traumatic injuries and burns has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of wound healing and our body’s resilience,” says Dr. Michael Renda. “This translates into the aesthetic realm as many of the skincare products and procedures are designed to remodel the skin, and at a cellular level elicit the body’s wound healing response.”
The evening was filled with good company, celebration, champagne, and pure bliss to celebrate the newest medically-backed luxurious beauty destination in Coral Gables.
Interviewing the dynamic duo and learning more about them and their endeavors was truly inspirational.
The Knockturnal: What inspired you to start your own beauty collective?
Alexis Lauren Collective Founders: “When we moved to Miami several years ago, I was looking for a place for injectables and facials and I couldn’t find an experience I loved. So, Michael and I started discussing what was missing in the space and what it would take to open a beauty collective that was luxurious and also offered bespoke treatments that really catered to the client and their needs. We wanted to marry the concept of injectables with high-end, highly curated skincare treatments.”
The Knockturnal: Have you always been passionate about beauty?
Alexis: “Yes, I have loved the beauty industry ever since I was a child! I was a ‘90s baby and read every copy of Seventeen and CosmoGirl magazine I could get my hands on—I even asked for retinol in middle school.”
The Knockturnal: What is your earliest beauty obsession?
Alexis: “I had so many obsessions and they were not good (ha)! Do you remember Sea Breeze and St. Ives Apricot Scrub?”
The Knockturnal: As a trauma surgeon, can you shed light on how it makes a difference to have true medical influence involved in aesthetic skincare? What can members expect as a result of having true medical expertise presiding over the collective?
Dr. Michael Renda: “The ability to take care of patients with catastrophic traumatic injuries and horrible burns has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of wound healing and our body’s resilience. This translates into the aesthetic realm as many of the skincare products and procedures are designed to remodel the skin and at a cellular level elicit the body’s wound healing response. For example, Sculptra, is designed to act as a catalyst to induce new collagen formation which helps redefine facial features for a more youthful look. Everything in medicine always boils down to the basic building blocks of biology, and that is no different for the aesthetic space; therefore my background only helps strengthen the medical backbone of our business model.”
The Knockturnal: What is it like running a business (so far) as a husband-and-wife duo?
Alexis Lauren Collective Founders: “We like to describe starting this business like walking in the dark in the middle of the night from the bathroom to the bed. You have your hands out and are blindly walking trying not to trip or hit your shin. Having a business partner on the same page as you, with the same goals, work ethic and reliability though has been key. The hard part is the access to your business partner. It never ends. We wake up and the texts between each other start at 7am to discuss the business, troubleshoot, answer emails etc. We are working on this balancing act but we can’t imagine doing this with anyone else. Seeing a project take shape that was merely an idea is uniquely gratifying. It is all a steep learning curve.”
The Knockturnal: What inspired the interiors?
Alexis Lauren Collective Founders: “Alexis as much as she won’t admit it is truly an aesthete—she has unparalleled taste and style. She was able to put together a mood board that our architects took one look at and brought to life. One of our mottos is “let’s slow things down”. The client is on a journey the second they immerse themselves into ALEXIS LAUREN. Time stands still from the moment they walk in the front door to their treatment room. Every wall and door is curved and custom made, just like the experience.”
The Knockturnal: How do you spend your free time in Miami?
Alexis Lauren Collective Founders: “We are total creatures of habit. We have our favorite places and things to do and we repeat them over and over again. We love the water, which makes Miami so special to us. Fitness is also paramount to each of us. You can always find Michael at Anatomy and Alexis taking a Pilates class at Tremble. We are total homebodies!”
Follow Alexis Lauren Collective on Instagram @alexislaurencollective and check out their website www.alexislauren.com to follow their journey and book your services.
Alexis Lauren Collective:
4203 Ponce de Leon Blvd
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Dee Rivera, founder of Hamptons Fashion Week, collaborated with the Times Square Alliance to produce Times Square Fashion Week on September 12. An accessible show held in the middle of Father Duffy Square, the “I Love New York Collection 2022” sparked interest from fashion enthusiasts and passerby’s all afternoon.
A great reflection of the melting pot New York is, the show featured pieces from a diverse group of designers and brands including a vibrant and perf for vacay line by Gloria Lee, a cute conservative, Christian line by Julissa Designs and and a bold, feminine line by MetaBurnett. Up and coming designers got their shine too, including 12-year-old designer Alexis “Lil Lex” Lopez. Lopez, similar to the other rising designers, are under the mentorship of James Corbett’s The Fashion Week Experience. Corbett served as a Presenter alongside Rivera and Bella Magazine CEO and Editor in Chief, Vanessa Coppes.
The event also doubled as an awards ceremony where the community witnessed Manhattan Borough President, Mark Levine, with the I❤️NY Leadership Award. Times Square Alliance President, Tom Harris, was also acknowledged with the Community Leadership Award. Both awards were presented by special guest, Jean Shafiroff who is known for her role as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
Summer may be coming to an end in 2022, but it doesn’t mean the glow of the season has to stop.
The beloved swimwear brand closed off Miami Swim Week with its latest collection.
On July 14th, 2022, Foster Grant hosted the Paraiso Miami Beach influencer and media welcome dinner at Tropezon, located in the Esme Miami Beach Hotel. Foster Grant Sun Luv collection is the Official Sponsor of Miami Swim week’s “Paraiso Miami Beach.” The leading global eyewear brand was featured at the shows all weekend and at the fashion tent daily with display, gifting, and photo booth activations.
The Foster Grant® SUN LUV collection was created to celebrate uniqueness while at the same time embracing important connections to others. Every pair of SUN LUV sunglasses comes with a coordinating A4114A® pouch (“All for One, One for All”) and bracelet to complete the look. And all of that comes in a reusable and recyclable paper tube.
The fun-filled Miami evening started with mingling, music, photos, a deliciously unique Rosé spritzer welcome cocktail, and charcuterie. The Rosé spritzer cocktail was light and refreshing but still had bold flavors of mint which gave this cocktail its unique twist. Once everyone was seated Natalija Dedic Stojanovic and John James Muller welcomed all the guests with a brief welcome introduction before the family-style dinner plates started coming out.
Tropezon, an Andalusian-style gin and tapas bar hidden in the corridors of historic Española Way was responsible for providing all the delicious eats, wines, and cocktails that were severed throughout the night. For our 1st course we indulged in: Para Picar, jamón ibérico de bellota, lomo de bellota, chorizo, mojama, manchego, hummus, gigante bean, finca la torre, sullivan street bread, pan con tomate, plum tomato, heirloom tomato, and garlic. The 2nd course featured carrots, chimichurri, yogurt, idiazabal, Patatas Bravas, aioli, pimentón, Tuna, ajo blanco, and salted cucumber. In our 3rd course, we enjoyed: local fish, clams, tio pepe, salsa verde, chicken, mojo picón, papas canaria, and swiss chard. Finally, it was dessert time. Our sweet tooths were satisfied with: churros, gianduja, salt peaches, oloroso, almond, and vanilla ice cream.
Everyone in attendance received a goodie bag filled with Foster Grant Sun Luv glasses, beauty products from Elaluz by Camila Coelho, and jewelry from Simplicité.
Talent and Influencers including: Jessie James Decker, Sydney Rae Bass, Jessica Payne, Cindy Prado, Alexa Collins, Madi Webb, and more were in attendance at the welcome dinner.
The evening continued at the Official Swim Week Kick-Off Party at the W Hotel on South Beach hosted by Paraiso Miami Beach and Select Model Management.
Special thanks to the Getty Images, A-list Communications, and everyone who made this epic night possible. Photo Credit: Aaron Davidson.
Summer is here and there is no better reason than to feel beautiful.
The film “Beauty” is a powerful love story about a young queer Black woman in the 1980’s aiming to breakout in the music industry while hoping to preserve her identity.
You can take us to this block party anytime.