View from El Bar NYC
El Bar at Pier 57 in Chelsea next to the Little Island is an ideal place for a party or intimate date because the location is unique, the cocktails are inspired, the bartenders are super-friendly, the view of the Hudson River at night dazzles, and the atmosphere is ultra-comfortable-yet-upscale.
Serving more than 400 tequila and mezcal spirits, you can also order mocktails and other non-tequila cocktails too, but this is certainly the place for tequila and mezcal lovers. The sunsets are spectacular over the river, so it’s the perfect spot for a drink before or after dining at the new Of Corsica! or City Winery or Miru on the rooftop. If you just want to have some drinks with friends, you can order guacamole, chips, and cocktails and savor a memorable night.
Beauty News NYC had an editor/writer get-together at El Bar NYC recently and enjoyed a private, cordoned-off space, which is an option for parties. The bartender, Brody, had specialty cocktails waiting for our writers, garnished with spicy watermelon, and he makes a savory gimlet mocktail, too.
We were able to celebrate some birthdays, sing happy birthday, and examine products without encroaching upon other guests, so if you’re looking for a spot this holiday season for celebrations, head to El Bar. Some of the cocktails you’ll find there are:
MEXICAN CANDY MARGARITA · SALSITA · MORIR SONANDO · LECHE DE MAIZE · SPICY MEZCAL PALOMA · EL DESIERTO MULE · CHIPILO NEGRONI · and th incredible NOCTURNO MANHATTAN.
Check out their full menu HERE.
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Baobab in the west village was the sponsor for our editor/writer goody bags, and provided not only their distinctive make-up bags, but their signature silver totes and gorgeous necklaces for the birthday editrixes. An enormous shout-out to Baobab on Bleecker Street (between Perry and 11th Street) in the far west village for their generosity and their spectacular clothing, which is sustainable, chic, and repurposed. Baobab has all-weather styles and colors, so whether you need a brightly hued bridesmaid’s dress for a destination wedding on the horizon, or some fall/winter attire, you can find it at their boutique.
Originally based in Colombia, Baobab is beloved around the globe for good reason: they have timeless, affordable styles that easily shift from work to play. Shop their distinctive fashions HERE.
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In the Goody Bag – Spectacular Items of Note
SomaCell – Lifting Without Limitations For Everyone
Handmade in Switzerland, SomaCell technology stimulates new somatic stem cells, which release exosomes and new collagen-elastin-connective tissue while repairing elastin and connective tissue. This novel technology is non-dermally wounding, non-surgical, FDA-cleared, clinically tested, and does not use heat to destroy tissues and tighten skin. SomaCell works on both the face and body to tighten and sculpt and smooth cellulite. Follow @somacellskin and find this groundbreaking treatment at 200 West 57th Street, Suite 710 in NYC.
Delilah Home – Luxurious Organic Goodness and Sustainable Living
Delilah Home founder and CEO Michael Twer has a vision for a better world filled with soft, organic, soothing home textiles that meet GOTS standards for purity, as well as a community of people who care about the planet, all of the people on it, and what they put in and on their bodies. Delilah Home products are 100% organic cotton-certified, and this was the first brand in the U.S. to introduce 100% hemp bedsheets. Reach for a chemical-free, soft and skin-nurturing Delilah Home offering for bath, beach, kitchen, pets, gym and bedtime to support a brand that genuinely cares about you.
For Their Lovely Faces
SEENAYA’s Discovery Set / Clarifying Serum + Brightening Serum
Seenaya’s Discovery Set contains two serums, created by Saman and Maha, a mother-daughter team, and inspired by Pakistani beauty: the Clarifying Serum with radish seed, tea tree, and thyme is free of all detrimental ingredients and is suitable for sensitive skin. Apply to clean skin any time you need a pampering skin-soother that clarifies. Seenaya’s Brightening Serum with vitamin C, Amla, and bergamot smells wonderful and works magic on the skin, imparting a luminous, hydrated glow. Pick these up for holiday gifting! They are effective for all skin types ($49).
Follow @seenayaoffical
Bakuchiol Renewing Facial Oil from Mudita Earth
All natural and made in the USA on family-owned farms, Mudita Earth‘s Bakuchiol Renewing Facial Oil is just what Mother Nature provided for the cooler, harsher, drying weather of fall and winter and after-sun too, when its rays have dried out your skin. Deeply hydrating, this facial oil improves firmness and is rooted in generations of Indian farming heritage and plant-powered revitalizing. This contains chia seed oil, kiwi and blackberry seed oil, bran oil, Japonica, prickly pear, and much more to benefit skin. Non-GMO with pure ingredients, it’s a veritable fall essential. ($29)
826 & Co – Forgiving Face & Neck Oil
The 826 and Co. Forgiving Face & Neck Oil is a fall/winter indulgence and potent elixir comprised of rejuvenating oils and extracts. This balm seals in moisture, leaving a satin-smooth finish, thanks to safflower, milk thistle, and pomegranate oil. This has 22 other efficacious ingredients to help soften, hydrate, and diminish the appearance of fine lines and is called Forgiving because it improves past neglect and environmental harm with every luscious drop you use on face and décolletage. This makes a wonderful holiday gift! ($40)
Kandesn – Pure Bio Cellulose Under Eye Mask
Inspired by Korean skincare and crafted with biodegradable bio cellulose, these are not your typical under-eye masks. I’ve tried many in my day, and this Kandesn Pure brand with ceramides, meadowfoam seed oil, pumpkin extract, niacinamide, and retinol is a novel experience: truly effective, moisturizing, and transforming. Your skin is left refreshed and feeling soft and hydrated. It also visibly improves the appearance of fine lines, puffiness, and dull skin for an overall luminosity. Highly recommend! Great for all skin types, and there are 10 sachets/masks per box. ($53)
Kandesn’s Sheer Glow Lip Dew Balm
With the Kandesn Sheer Glow Lip Dew Balm, radiance meets nourishing lip care for a sheer wash of color that will impart intense moisture to get you through fall and winter weather. Crafted with sunflower seed oil and vitamin E, these lip hues condition lips, and their lightweight formulations create a fresh, natural, full appearance. The lip washes are clean-ingredient and made in the USA. Try the Cotton Candy, Mulberry, Grapefruit, Petal Peach, and Spring Bloom shades or mix-and-match them to suit the season, your outfit and your style. ($31-$34)
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For Health and Relaxation
NAR Pre-Rolls for Relaxation & Fun
The founder of NAR pre-rolls is a fantastic single mom who had to find a way to support herself and her family after a divorce, and the result benefits everyone who partakes in nature’s anxiety-quelling gift. Packaged in a beautiful tall, round glass vial suitable for presents, each vial contains two Sour Diesel Sativa pre-rolls, THC 21.4% for $14. This is downright euphoric for anyone who enjoys cannabis.
For those who eschew alcohol but want to retain the social aspects of drinking at parties or over dinner with friends, Clean T Zero Proof Tequila from Clean Co delivers the unique tequila experience and taste without the alcohol. This is a great mixer, too! Useful to have on hand for the holidays for Margarita mocktails, it contains delicious notes of Green Agave, Olive, Sweet Melon, Black Pepper and Cedarwood. Their recommended pour: mix 2oz Clean T with tonic water, top with ice and garnish with a wedge of lime and/or a dash of Tabasco. Cheers to Clean T as a forthcoming holiday option. ($29)
UPPY! Electrolytes for Travel, After Parties, and Workouts
Uppy! is created to be highly effective when dissolved in just 4 ounces of water, which reduces waste, increases hydration, and is a boon for travel, sports, the gym, days in the sun, and after parties. Uppy!’s packaging is also tailored for those with an active lifestyle, with the goal of increasing hydration since so many people don’t even realize they’re chronically dehydrated. A portion of sales helps provide clean, safe drinking water to those who lack access, too. Staying hydrating is one of the best and simplest things you can do for your health and wellness. One tube contains 10 effervescent tablets, each with electrolytes, minerals and vitamins, flavored with natural Lemon-Lime and a hint of Ginger. ($9.90 per tube of 10).
Hormonal shifts, sleepless nights, period-cycle chaos, and menopause are all thankfully mitigated by Hello Again. The plant-powered, hormone-free vaginal suppositories support you through every phase of womanhood and are designed by women who know what it’s like to want relief without compromise. The botanically-infused products help you feel more comfortable when you need an OTC sleep aid or support through monthly period discomfort. Pain and discomfort should not be brushed aside as “normal,” so stock up on Hello Again’s brilliant solutions for relief. (10 suppositories for $55)
Ideal for parents, children, and for anyone who loves organic dried fruit with no additives, That’s it. crisp snacks have only two ingredients: the fruit. Apple and Strawberry Crisps have only apples and strawberries, and Apple + Blueberry Crisps have only apples and blueberries. They contain no sugar, are non-GMO, are free from top 12 allergens, are gluten-free, and are made in the USA. These snacks contain only 40 calories, are delicious, and are oddly satisfying (I write “oddly” only because I am not normally a fruit-eater, and I usually eat more than 10g of a snack – but these sate hunger with one small pack). Highly recommended for traveling, mid-afternoon snacking, midnight snacking, and lunch boxes for children and adults alike. (Box of 15 for $18)
If you suffer from eczema, then Exederm Flare Contro Cream is truly a godsend. It’s the only paraben-free hydrocortisone cream available in the US, and the first hydrocortisone product to receive the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance. It helps heal eczema flare-ups, provides fast, soothing relief for itchy red skin and is fine for both adults and children older than two years of age, so keep this in mind. ($7-$16)
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An enormous and heartfelt THANK YOU to El Bar NYC and to all of the wonderful brands who participated in our editor/writer party to make it all the more memorable. Please support these businesses as they support our community, as many of them are start-ups trying to improve the world by solving a particular problem.
