above: Marcos Osorio/Stocksy – stock.adobe.com
BRAINS & BEAUTY
THE GOOD LIFE IS ALL ABOUT BALANCE. We want to FEEL GOOD ON THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, to tend to our appearance but not obsess about it, to find the MOST REWARDING CAREER PATH and navigate the bumps with ease and HELP OUR KIDS LAND AT THE IDEAL COLLEGE FOR THEM (without either of us going batty in the process!). FROM A BROW MAKEOVER TO A LIFE REBOOT, the services and mavens you need to COMPLETE YOUR LIFE MAY BE RIGHT HERE in this list of editor FAVORITES.
SUZANNE GANNON’S ESSAY CONQUEROR
theessayconqueror.com
@conquertheessay
Life is not good when you must constantly nag your slothful teens—whose attention spans have been reduced to the length of a TikTok video—to write their college application essays. Enter the Essay Conqueror. Suzanne Gannon is an award-winning journalist and essayist whose work has appeared in titles like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Town & Country. Now her college-bound students are amassing a new list of wins for her: Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, Duke, UCLA, Berkeley, Brown, Dartmouth, Northwestern, UVA (her alma mater), University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin and more. Suzanne has a way of pulling out kids’ quirks and helping them highlight their individuality. No nagging necessary. Coaching sessions are via Zoom and commence with a 20-minute complimentary consultation.
JUTTA GUIATI
juttaguiati.com
Finns are known to be some of the happiest—and healthiest—people on the planet. But rather than jet over to Scandinavia to unearth their secrets, you can get a life and career reboot right here, from Jutta Guiati. Described by one of our editors as “the most effervescent Finnish woman,” Jutta is a corporate career coach who offers personal coaching. She has guided stay-at-home moms back into the workforce; enabled stressed professionals to thrive at work and find more joy at home; and helped individuals establish, stick to and achieve ambitious career goals. Is this your year?
NEW WAY WRITER
Westport/Online
newwaywriter.com
Have a film or TV pilot idea you always wanted to get down on paper? Whether you dream of selling a script or are just looking for a creative outlet, Hollywood screenwriter GiGi New will help you find your voice and master the challenging art of storytelling for the screen. Work one-on-one or in groups in her Westport studio or online. Offerings for teens and aspiring film school students will help them catch the attention of top programs. Check GiGi’s site for upcoming classes and workshops.
AILEEN BARCIA LASH STUDIO
131 King’s Highway North, Westport
914-806-6691; abprobeauty.com
Aileen Barcia has been beautifying eyes for eight years after falling in love with her wedding lashes. She offers lash extensions, lash lift and tint, eyebrow waxing, tinting and lamination. Her clients call her a magician and love the ease of low-maintenance always-glam lashes. Aileen also swears by the lash growth serum she sells. Her site features an array of eye-enhancing products like Fluff Up Lash Wands, Cool Down Eye Masks, Lash Bath Gel and Foam Cleanser.
FERNANDA ORTEGA FABULOUS BROWSTUDIO
173 Hamilton Avenue, Greenwich
914-565-5229; fabulousbrowstudio.com @fabulousbrowstudioct
What Fernanda Ortega wants is for her clients to feel fabulous every day of their lives. Her highly skilled handiwork with enhancing lashes and brows is a sure way to bestow a bright-eyed outlook. Fernanda is a certified artist in 3D microblading, microshading and powder brows. Her specialty is the hyper-realistic brow technique, a micropigmentation that yields the most natural results. Other services include eyelash extensions and lash lift, brow lamination and semi-permanent makeup applications—lip blush, powder brows and tightliner. Clients rave about Fernanda’s work and the warm and welcoming feel at her studio. Fernanda recently became a U.S. citizen and also got married in a small ceremony—in her boutique!
SKIN STUDIO AESTHETICS AND WELLNESS
972 Post Road (Suite 202), Darien
203-939-0077; skinstudioct.com
Skin Studio has had its own glow-up recently, moving to a luxe new space above the Goose in Darien. Clients rave about the glowing results of laser treatments here. Offerings include: Facial Wrinkle Release (Botox, Dysport and Xeomin), Studio Secret IPLxResurfacing laser, Sculptra (an injectable treatment that stimulates collagen production and restores facial volume), Morpheus (a skin- rejuvenation treatment combining micro-needling and radio frequency technology), Glo2 Facial (a non-invasive treatment that oxygenates, exfoliates and hydrates the skin), dermaplaning facial, chemical peels, laser hair removal, Keralase (for hair loss) and more. Those who want to go all in can indulge in the Holy Grail: a combo of Morpheus8, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Ultra Resurfacing Laser technology.
THE BEAUTY LOFT
1698 Post Road East, Westport
thebeautyloftspa.com
Detox your body from the inside out at Sofia Guerrero’s Beauty Loft. Word is that The Beauty Loft’s lymphatic drainage massages have a cult following. Rejuvenating facials, lash and brow enhancements and teeth whitening are also on the menu. Bonus: The Beauty Loft is located within Kara Mac’s A Place to Glow spray tan boutique.