Have you heard the buzz? It's finally here! I'm so excited to share my new skin care brand with you - Elm Biosciences. My products are now available to shop!
After five years of hard, behind-the-scenes work and endless hours of research, co-founder dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, and I, developed Elm Biosciences with an innovative and unique lab-to-patient model offering a science-backed inside-approach to graceful aging and skin longevity. Our two anchoring products include Inner Dose, a daily supplement designed to strengthen the skin's foundation, and A3O Elemental Serum, an antioxidant rich formula that helps smooth, brighten, and firm the skin. You're all going to love them! Click anywhere on this highlighted link to buy your Elm Biosciences beauty set right now!
Earlier this week, we celebrated our launch with a party at The Twenty Two in New York City. Enjoy these photos.
I am thrilled to share my new Elm Biosciences products with you. I’ve been taking the Inner Dose supplements and using the A3O serum every day and my skin has responded so beautifully. You really need to try them! Both are available to order right now!
My launch day started with a segment on Today with Jenna & Friends, hosted by Jenna Bush Hager joined by Rosie Perez. Here I am on set in my Veronica Beard jacket. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Next it was straight to the executive Marquee Brands headquarters to record a podcast with Elm Biosciences co-founder Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, and advisory board dermatologists Dr. Raja Sivamani and Dr. Saranya Wiles. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
My podcast covered everything from what motivated our new system of skin care to the science behind graceful aging and some of the most exciting advances in regenerative skin medicine out today. Be sure to listen to this informative and interesting discussion – look for it wherever you get your podcasts. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
And then it was time to celebrate! (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Here I am with Dhaval at the luxury hotel The Twenty Two. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
We reserved the hotel’s restaurant for our event – planned by the International Event Production and Design Agency, Hessney & Co. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
The formal symbol of our skincare brand is the elm bonsai. The bonsai, when thoughtfully and carefully maintained, becomes more beautiful as it matures. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
New England Bonsai Gardens loaned us several bonsai specimens for this event. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Grammy award winning hip-hop recording artist and DJ Fredwreck was in charge of all the music! (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Small bites included a delicious oyster bar with caviar. We also offered caviar with potato, melba toasts topped with sardines, gougères, and short rib purse dumplings.
Among the specialty cocktails, my Gold Martharita made with Casa Dragones Blanco, cointreau, orange juice, lime juice and sparkling water. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
These Gold Martharitas couldn’t be mixed fast enough. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
More than 150 influencers, press, and friends of the brand attended. Here I am with Dhaval and John Demsey. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Here’s a photo of Andy Yu and Chiun Kai Shih. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
And here’s Dhaval and Nicky Hilton. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
Here’s Dria Murphy trying to copy my “thirst trap” look. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
But no one compares… get tips on my social media video tutorial for creating the thirst trap – have you seen it? (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
And of course, everyone went home with a bag of their own products. Be sure to go online now and buy your Inner Dose supplements and A3O Elemental Serum. I assure you, there’s nothing like Elm Biosciences – just try it. (Photo by Madison McGaw/BFA)
One of the responsibilities of being a homeowner is to make sure all the major appliances are always in good, working order. Keeping household equipment clean and well-functioning not only extends their lives, but can actually help reduce the risk of fire.
Recently, I called in a team from The Butlers & Air Quality to service all the ductwork and HVAC systems in the buildings. According to The National Air Duct Cleaners Association, it is a good idea to have air ducts professionally examined and cleaned every three to five years - vents, and the air ducts behind them, attract dust, pet dander and a host of other particles that can affect the air quality in the home. This process can take several hours depending on the size of the structure, but it's a very important and necessary task.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
When was the last time your HVAC system was checked? Do you know where it’s located in your home? In most homes, they are set up in either the attic or the basement. Here is a view of one in the attic of my guest house studio building.
The Butlers & Air Quality in Yorktown Heights, New York, came out to the farm to service all the ducts and vents. This company is a family-owned and operated business that has been covering the area since 1982. I’ve been using this company for years.
This is a portable diesel fuel air compressor, which provides high pressure clean air to help push the airflow toward the vacuum device.
The vacuum collection device is used to gain airflow control in the ducts and then suction all the debris into its big tank.
This is the opening of the collection filter, where any dust and debris from the ducts ends up. Take a close look at how clean it is now before the ducts are blown.
The setup involves connecting a large suction hose from the air handler in the attic to the collection tank. A standard household vacuum isn’t powerful enough to clean deep into the crevices of the ducts, so it is always helpful to call in professional teams to do the job.
Here is the hose connected into the unit.
These air hoses run through the house from the outdoor air compressor.
The Butlers & Air Quality team is very neat and tidy – towels are wrapped around the hoses at various points, so as not to mar any of the walls or floors.
Moving blankets are also positioned in various areas to protect floors from moving equipment.
Meanwhile, all the air vent covers are carefully removed.
The air return covers are also taken down for the job.
Some vent covers are located closer to the floor.
The vents are inspected and wiped down, and any visible debris is directed toward the main duct area.
The covers are temporarily replaced with pieces of cardboard to allow for stronger suction power.
One by one, Hermes goes to each of the vent openings to snake the hose through and direct all the debris, so it can get picked up by the vacuum.
Any debris blown goes through the large suction hose to the collection tank.
This part of of the process takes two to three hours depending on the size of the home. It’s important to be thorough to get all the debris. Doing this regularly removes dust, dirt, and other pollutants that accumulate over time. It can greatly improve indoor air quality, reduce allergens and respiratory issues, and increase the HVAC efficiency.
The outside vents are also all blown clean.
Here, the vent covers are getting cleaned and wiped completely dry.
This is an atomization machine filled with antimichrobial that is sprayed into the ductwork to kill any potential, bacteria, mold, or mildew.
After each vent opening is cleaned and blown of debris, it is lightly sprayed with antimicrobial solution.
Once the top floor is completed, the vacuum and hoses are moved down to the basement, where they can be used to clean the vents and ducts in the downstairs zone of this house.
Hermes, who has been with the company for many years, opens the system’s air handler.
The vacuum hose is connected to the supply plenum, an air-distribution box attached directly to the handler and all the equipment that heats or cools the house – it is the heart of the duct system.
And the other end is connected directly into the vacuum collection device.
As the hoses are snaked through the air vents from above, Hermes holds the hose from the basement to control its movement and airflow pressure.
Hermes checks that the air handler is working properly and then cleans all the unit’s coils and the blower wheel.
And then sprays the coils with a protective oil.
All the vents are cleaned and the hose is removed from the vacuum collection device.
Look inside – so much dust and debris.
Once everything is cleaned, all the vent covers are carefully returned.
This house is done, but there are a couple more to go… onto my Summer House next. Thank you, Butlers & Air Quality!
There is always so much to see and learn about at my farm.
Over the years I have designed many gardens. One area that is constantly evolving is my pinetum - an arboretum of pine trees and other conifers I planted in a field behind my large Equipment Barn and near my weeping willow grove. This collection has grown extremely well and I continue to add additional specimens every year.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
When I first bought my farm, I knew I wanted to plant many trees. This pinetum collection includes pine trees, but I have also included many spruces, firs, and other interesting evergreens.
Once trees are mature, they need little maintenance except for regular mulching and removal of dead or diseased branches. I keep the ground well-mulched using material made right here at the farm.
On one side of this pinetum are the tall weeping willows. Weeping willows are wide with beautiful curtains of drooping branches that sweep the ground. I have several groves of weeping willow trees here at my property.
The leaves are long and narrow with a light green color and a finely toothed margin.
Callitropsis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ or weeping Alaskan cedar, is a slender, strongly weeping form that grows to as much as 35-feet tall.
It has widely spaced ascending to horizontal branches with flattened sprays of blue-green leaves that hang downward.
And this is a young Picea orientalis ‘Aurea,’ a Golden Oriental Spruce. It shows off dense, dark green foliage.
New growth emerges bright yellow, fading to rich gold with dark green in the plant’s interior.
Perhaps you recognize this one – a dawn redwood, Metasequoia Glyptostroboides. I have planted plenty of these trees around my farm. This one was just planted here earlier this year.
The dawn redwood has feathery, fine-textured needles that are opposite each other and approximately a half-inch long. Don’t confuse them with the bald cypress needles, which grow alternately. These dawn redwood needles will turn shades of red and brown before falling – it is one of the few deciduous conifers.
Other trees growing here include this dwarf white pine tree. If you’re not sure how to tell some of these popular trees apart, here are some key tips: pines have needles that are arranged and attached to the branches in clusters of two, three or five. Spruce and fir trees have needles attached individually to the branches.
This is a baby blue spruce, Picea pungens ‘Baby Blue.’ This dwarf blue spruce tree stays under 25 feet.
Picea abies ‘Pendula’ describes the weeping forms of Norway spruce. The Norway spruce or European spruce is a species of spruce native to Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. Its uniquely trained form adds so much interest in this pinetum.
These are the branches of a Japanese Yew, Emerald Spreader, a cold hardy, evergreen shrub that is strong, sturdy, and retains its green color even in winter.
These branches are from a Cedrus deodara ‘Wells Golden’ – a true cedar with rich, golden color, which is beautiful in winter.
I add more specimens to this collection every year – some are very rare and slow growing, but I love the variety of plantings I’ve amassed. This past spring I began developing this area of the pinetum, adding more interesting specimens.
Umbrella pines are unique. The branches of young trees grow straight out and then become more pendulous as they mature.
The foliage of the Obelisk Juniper is dark blue-green. Its needles are pointed and can grow up to a half-inch long.
Burke’s Variegated Red Japanese Pine, Pinus densiflora, is a multi-stemmed evergreen with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form.
It features striking wide, horizontal, creamy yellow bands on each needle, which are visible year-round on rough branches.
I hope this inspires you to try planting more unusual plants that can add both texture and color to your garden.
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