Oh the pressure to look fabulous. Once a concern mainly for the ladies, the gender gap has narrowed, and now more than ever, men are feeling pressure to look stylish, have 6-pack abs and perfectly coiffed hair. As much as things have changed, there is no denying that the ladies are still held to a higher and practically impossible standard.

Don’t worry – I’m not going to tell you that you need to live in the gym, strictly eat organic and go for a weekly colonic.  While living a generally healthy lifestyle is, of course extremely important, there’s no need to go to extremes!  I love a good quick fix as much as anybody and this one is for the best looking décolletage.

What is the décolletage you ask? Well, put quite simply, it’s your cleavage, and the almighty cleavage confronts the same signs of aging that the face encounters. Now while I don’t have personal experience with this particular quick fix, the ladies in my office all swear by it. We all take care of the skin on our faces with the best treatment products, so why not up the ante for a hot night on the town? If you’re already an M+G devotee, you probably know how amazing our Detox Face Mask is for the face; it works the same magic when I applied to your chest. Whether you’re hitting up the beach in your teeny polka dot bikini or going out for a glamorous dinner in your favorite little black dress, you want to put your best, er, face forward. The Detox Face Mask will leave the skin of your cleavage looking clearer and feeling smooth and soft.  Follow this with a couple of drops of our fabulous Replenishing Face Serum for an instantly brightening and plumping affect and then our top selling Vitamin B5 Body Moisturizer for long lasting moisture retention.

Now- go wield those feminine wiles!

Brian Lynch,  National Training Manager

Recently we received a question regarding the gluten content of our products. Until recently, I had no idea that cosmetics and personal grooming products could even contain gluten; I had always thought it was the ingredient du jour that yogis and the body conscious among us were trying to avoid. After researching the matter further, I realized that gluten is not only found in food products, but all sorts of cosmetic products. In fact, a medical study was released in October 2011 which reviewed products from the top 10 cosmetics brands in the United States, and of these 10 only 2 offered detailed ingredient information. Not one of them offered gluten free products.

Let’s start with answering the question of what gluten even is. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barely. That may seem specific enough, but gluten can be found in products as varied as sausages, toothpaste, salad dressing and some lipsticks. For most of us this is not an issue, but for at least 1 in 100 of us (and the number is rising) this creates a real health concern. Some people have a gluten sensitivity known as Celiac disease,  a condition in which the body’s immune system treats this protein like an invader, damaging the small intestine. This can cause abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, even malnutrition.  Not cute.

Now back to the original question, do Malin+Goetz products contain gluten? The simple answer to this question, is no. However, I know a simple no will not satisfy all of you, and some will dissect the ingredient list, so for the sake of full disclosure, some of our products contain (gluten free) wheat germ oil and an oat derivative; these products are the Sage Styling Cream, Replenishing Face Cream and Vitamin B5 Hand Treatment. If you are concerned by this, please check with your doctor.

On another note, questions like these are great, as they don’t just educate you the consumer, but also provide an opportunity for me to further educate myself.  Feel free to ask away!

Brian Lynch,  National Training Manager

When you’re rushing to get the perfect present under the tree, or even just placing an order for over-night delivery because you’re out of Acne Treatment, it’s easy to forget that there are people helping you make this magic happen. Originally, our shipping team consisted of Matthew and Andrew shipping every order themselves from the back of our flagship store in Chelsea. As we’ve grown, they’ve relinquished these duties to our in-house shipping team who work dutifully (and hilariously) everyday to ensure that you get your favorite Malin+Goetz products. We thought we’d introduce you to the people coordinating the prompt delivery of your orders.

Chris is the manager of our shipping department, and is in charge of the daily operations of the shipping team. He has been a part of the Malin+Goetz team for two years. You can find him turning the radio dial to the classic rock station of his choice.  He lives in the Greenpoint area of Brooklyn with his fiancée Anna and his rabbit Bernie. Off duty he also illustrates a comic strip!

Supporting Malin+Goetz’ shipping needs requires a person to wear many hats, and wear them well. Fortunately we have Tre, the shipping department’s thespian, and jack of all trades. Occasionally, we catch him singing along to the radio while fastidiously picking out samples for customers to try. Off the clock he is a an actor who has performed in a variety of Off-Broadway productions including Hamlet.

Freddy is the latest addition to our shipping team, and the only life long New Yorker of the bunch. He was born and raised in Chelsea and has seen the neighborhood through its many changes. Even now, he lives in Chelsea with his wife and two children. We are thrilled to have him join Malin+Goetz!

Freddy, Tre, and Chris

We asked them to look tough for this photo. I think they succeeded.

Thanks gentlemen for all of your hard work. We are lucky to have you.

Sara Blanco, Digital Marketing Manager

Congratulations – if you are reading this, then you have survived the crazy, frenetic season known broadly as “The Holidays”. Your wallet may be a little lighter, stomach a little fuller and a feeling that can probably be described simply as being “burnt out” has set in. Though you may be feeling tired, you don’t have to look it. Malin+Goetz offers some fantastic problem+solution products to revive and freshen tired looking complexions.

The Detox Face Mask ($40 and winner of the Allure Beauty Award for Best Face mask) is a simple, oxygenating gel mask that opens the pours and deeply cleanses black heads and impurities, while at the same time infusing the skin with oxygen, green tea extract and stable vitamin c. The result is a dewy soft, refreshed and brightened complexion.

If you’re like me, you’ve been getting extra festive for the holidays, and a simple moisturizer may not be quite enough for thirsty, tired skin. One of my favorite products in the entire line is the Replenishing Face Serum ($68), which utilizes tried and true hyaluronic acid to pull your moisturizer as well as moisture from the air deeper into the skin, helping to smooth out and plump up any lines and wrinkles that may be appearing a bit deeper than usual. It also gives your skin an instant brightness and clarity, and who’s going to say no to that?

So whether you rang in the New Year at a posh cocktail party, a wild rager, or just on your couch with a bottle of champagne, don’t let it interfere with looking your best doing it – we make it easy!

Have a happy and healthy everyone – we’ve made it into 2012!

Brian Lynch, National Training Manager

People ask me all the time what the differences between our body washes are. The short answer is; the fragrance imparted by the natural extracts in them.  So, it really comes down to personal preference. While this is true, we have chosen Bergamot, Eucalyptus and Geranium for reasons beyond their beautiful scent. All of these ingredients are not only mood-lifting in their scent, but have also been known to promote skin health.

For instance, eucalyptus is a good antiseptic because of its germicide properties, helping to heal wounds and skin infections. It also helps ease muscle and joint pain. On top of all that, it has also been used in aromatherapy to fight fatigue and mental exhaustion. A shower with our eucalyptus body wash is an invigorating way to start the day.

Bergamot has also been used in aromatherapy as an anti-depressant and to treat anxiety. It is also a disinfectant as well as a deodorant. Its relaxing properties make it the perfect preparation for a full night of sleep after a hectic day.

Meanwhile, geranium is naturally astringent, as well as anti-bacterial. Additionally, it has anti-viral qualities and promotes cellular turnover. Even if that means nothing to you, you’re still sure to fall in love with the crisp green scent with a hint of floral.

So you see, a product as seemingly simple as body wash can in actuality be so much more. You learn something new every day! Which one is your fave?

Brian Lynch, National Training Manager