Current Vine

By Denise Tong

The average woman nowadays is looking for beauty products that not only improve her appearance, but are good for her as well. JUARA, a 4-year-old skincare line inspired by Indonesian ingredients and traditions, offers products that will nourish and improve one’s skin. Founders Metta Murdaya, Yoshiko Roth, Jill Sung, and Tami Chuang have blended Indonesian herbal recipes with Western science to make a high-quality, effective, and luxurious line.

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By Denise Tong

The title of Ridley Pearson’s latest crime novel, Killer Summer (Putnam, 2009), might well dsecribe the past several weeks for the author. Since its publication on June 30, the novel’s swift pace and deft twists have earned it kudos from outlets such as Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly, as well as raves from numerous book blogs.

Summer brings back Pearson’s beloved character Walt Fleming, sheriff of Sun Valley, Idaho. Walt is in charge of protecting Sun Valley’s high-class annual wine auction, but quickly winds up trying to outfox a brilliant criminal who has planned an incredible heist.

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By Denise Tong

Shecky’s Media, Inc. is working as hard as ever to make sure women have no excuse to forgo a night out with their girlfriends. This summer, the company is continuing its hugely popular multi-city Girls Night Out event, which allows young, stylish women to enjoy specially discounted fashion and beauty items, cocktails, and the famous overstuffed Shecky’s goodie bag—all for a reasonable ticket price.

Originally a publisher of nightlife guides, Shecky’s became a multi-platform company in 2002, adding events and original editorial Web content to its offerings. In addition to Girls Night Out, other popular events include Beauty Night Out and Beauty Week, both in New York City. And all year round, Sheckys.com keeps women in the know with content such as fashion articles, how-to makeup videos, and bar and club recommendations.

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By Denise Tong

By the time the New York-based fifth season of Bravo’s Top Chef came to an end, finalist Carla Hall had turned out a strong set of challenge wins and near-wins, all the while earning a ton of fans with her earnest and enthusiastic approach to both the competition and food itself.

Her highlights included winning Super Bowl tickets for a challenge against previous seasons’ contestants and making a “last supper” that famed chef Jacques Pépin said he’d enjoy having as his final meal.

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By Denise Tong

Commercials, TV series, movies, and books constantly broadcast messages about how girls and women should live their lives—often to ridiculous results. Comedian Sarah Haskins humorously skewers these messages in Target Women, a segment that is part of infoMania, Current TV’s weekly show (Thursdays, 10 p.m. EST).

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By Denise Tong

Dr. Sue DeCotiis, a Manhattan internist with a longtime interest in skin care, recently began to offer her chemical peel treatments beyond her patients to the general public—and Current Vine was one of the first outlets to know.

“It happened serendipitously,” she explains. “Patients kept asking me about their skin: brown spots, wrinkles, and so on.”

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By Denise Tong

Those who know a bit about diamonds are likely familiar with the 4 Cs: cut, carat, clarity, and color. Meghan Connolly Haupt’s jewelry company, C5, introduces a fifth C into the equation: consciousness. 

Seeking to reduce the size of consumers’ environmental footprints, C5 offers fine jewelry that is produced in the United States with recycled metals and gems that are either ethically mined or lab-created (the two kinds are chemically identical). In addition to ready-to-wear retail jewelry, the company allows clients to custom-design their own jewelry through an extensive collaborative process. Loose diamonds and other precious gems are also available.

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By Denise Tong

With just four episodes left in the fifth season of Project Runway, Leanne Marshall has emerged as a serious competitor with strong, sculptural designs that have helped her secure two challenge wins. Her first win involved making an outfit entirely out of the spare parts from a hybrid car; the second involved creating a look inspired by the movie classic A Foreign Affair for Diane von Furstenberg’s Fall 2008 collection—a look that will be manufactured and sold exclusively to American Express cardholders.

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By Denise Tong

On the most recent episode of Shear Genius, Bravo’s competitive hairstyling series, Season 2 contestant Nicole Obert earned a spot in the finals by winning a challenge to give twins two distinct looks. Wednesday, August 27 marks the season finale, where she will face off against two other stylists to be named “Shear Genius,” win $100,000, and get the opportunity to style hair for an Allure magazine shoot.

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By Denise Tong

At her small salon in midtown Manhattan, esthetician Joanna Vargas and her select team nourish and rejuvenate clients’ skin in a tranquil, comfortable environment. Built on the idea of marrying technology to nature, Joanna Vargas Skin Care is dedicated to offering safe and effective ways to improve the condition of people’s skin without resorting to invasive procedures like plastic surgery.

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