Because skin can start to age as early as 25 and become more delicate and sensitive, caring for it is necessary to prolong the vitality of your skin. One of the main problems that occur is skin dryness. This is where Sebamed’s Anti-Dry Day Defence Cream comes in. The soothing and smoothing properties of phytosterols & avocado oil (with skin-related lipids, Vitamins A and E) combined with Vitamin E protect and care for the skin. This cream glides over your skin where it is completely absorbed, leaving no sticky traces.

The pH value of 5.5 supports the skin’s own natural acid barrier against dehydration and irritants. Dermatological tests have proven that Sebamed Anti-dry Day Cream used in combination with the Night Cream can restore the essential moisture balance of dry skin.
You got to love the skin you’re in, and you only get one, so take care of it!

There are all sorts of rules we as kids in Asian families grew up with, like the proper etiquette in front of elders at the dinner table. Our parents would chastise us if we ate before elders or did not use both hands to serve food to them.

After my own parents’ careful instructions, I thought I had been well informed in common table decorum. However, after recently visiting an elder’s house, I learned something new. Though the custom of cutting fruit might seem trivial to us modern day young adults, it ‘s a practice that’s been carried on throughout generations and has significant meaning to the elders being served.

Much like the etiquette surrounding pouring, accepting and even drinking alcohol, cutting fruit in Korean tradition was a social practice that reinforced the underlying social hierarchy of Korean culture. Specifically, the custom of fruit cutting was one way to impart the traditional values of harmony, hospitality and respect.

I, for one, was excited to learn that there were specific methods to cutting fruit, depending on who you were sharing the fruit with. Take, for example, cutting an Asian pear (which are in season now through October).

• If in the company of elders, one must first peel the skin of the pear, starting from the stem and circling it off until all the skin is completely removed. Then one may slice the pear into quarters.

• If in the company of one’s peers, one can cut the pear into quarters first, then remove the skin from the cut fruit.

Besides fruit cutting,  there are plenty of other customs in Korean culture that show respect for others and elders, like the way you serve tea or greet one another.

Were there any social graces or table manners that you grew up with or learned recently? Comment below and let us know!

I don’t think Hello Kitty can ever go out of style. I think Ray Bans eventually will, capris have already been there, done that, and purple is apparently the new pink which was apparently the new black. But Hello Kitty, that’s a classic that will stay with girls age 5 to 50.    That’s why I would totally rock this Floral Heather Grey Tank by Hello Kitty by Public Library.  You got the Kitty looking all distressed- in a totally cool way, of course.  The tank is comfortable to wear and would look good anywhere.  I’m thinking I would layer it with comfy cardigans just in time for Fall. Kitty’s coming out to play!

Last year's Battle of the Pitches winner James Huang receiving critiques from the judges.

Do you have the best idea for a movie but don’t know what (or who) you have to do to get it made? Enter Battle of the Pitches. In its second year, the competition brings API talents straight to the boardroom where they are judged by high-level Hollywood execs and power players based on their one to two minute pitches for a screenplay idea. Sponsored by FOX Diversity and produced by MAPID (Mavericks of API Descent) and ID Film Fest 2010, Battle of the Pitches aims to promote up-and-coming artists and get them accustomed to the high stakes, pressurized nature of an actual pitch session with a producer or agent. Last year’s winner, James Huang, 33, demolished the competition with his script for the romantic comedy, All Your Fault. Here, he shares with Audrey what the experience was like.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, James.

My name is James Huang. I am primarily an actor and I have also written, produced and directed for film and television over the last 12 years between New York and Los Angeles. My script entitled, “ALL YOUR FAULT” is a romantic comedy that won last year’s Battle of the Pitches at the first ever ‘BREAKING THE BOW’ festival. My script was also a finalist at two other festivals this year, including the Beverly Hills Film Festival and the IndieProducer screenwriting competition.

Can you share with us a little about your experience for last year’s competition?

I don’t remember much of any of it since it was all up and over within a single night for me. My lovely friend, Kelvin Han Yee called me randomly that afternoon and informed me about the Battle of the Pitches a few hours before the event was to take place in Santa Monica. He asked if I had any projects in the works, as I often do, and he encouraged me to pitch my script to the live festival competition. I didn’t feel prepared to do anything of the sort, and so I graciously declined participating. But then Kelvin insulted my masculinity, artistic integrity, and genitalia (in that order) — to which I accepted his challenge and showed up to the Breaking the Bow festival. I didn’t know what any of it was, but I think I saw it advertised on Kelvin’s never ending Facebook tweets earlier that week. I also had to make it clear to Kelvin that all my parts were in perfectly fine working order, size, and of the male gender.

How did you pitch your screenplay?

In terms of pitching it, I just threw it out there in sixty seconds in a similar way that I would in trying to tell a really interesting story or even a joke at a bar — It’s dark, noisy, people’s attention spans are limited and they’ve heard it all before. You have sixty seconds to make an impression or go home alone again — ready, set, GO.

How did you prepare for the pitch?

I guess my preparation was just in the writing process itself. I didn’t prepare anything specific for the actual pitch competition since I didn’t have any time to. I had just recently finished the second draft of my script with my writing partner, Anna Musso. Not only did we have to discuss the material at length in the writing process, but we had been sharing it with a few people to check out and give me feedback and notes. When any writer does this, they naturally talk to others about the story and characters to friends, actors, and other writers. So I was already beginning to get familiar with talking about the key points of my script. I guess being concise and quick about it was all that the pitch competition really required. I also knew that I had to convey the tone of my piece with my presentation, so I had a bit of bitter attitude about it on stage — like a chip on my shoulder, which is what the central character of the story has. The character is on the brink of a melt down from having just been dumped, so I think at one point, I yelled angrily as I was explaining the story on stage. They got a laugh out of that, so I guess it was worked. I also like yelling on stage, no matter what I’m talking about.

What opportunities did winning the competition give you?

Being able to say that my screenplay won a festival contest and that the script was then read and considered by FOX 2000 and FOX Searchlight is always a nice thing to accompany a script when you’re looking for indie producers and investors. But the truth is, I’m still searching to get this film made. Hey, do you know anyone interested in giving me about a quarter million to make a film? I won this pitch competition and got to meet with FOX Searchlight and FOX 2000. They loved it. Absolutely loved it. And I love Kelvin Han Yee.

To enter, send your info to battle@mapid.us. Entry fee is $15

Sometimes, I really wish I could be a badass. I really wish I can break out into barfights and pierce my nose and drink whiskey for breakfast. But I can’t. At least with the Silver Double Fingered Ring by Ija Designs, I can pretend I have a little bit of badassness to me. Sleek and modern, this ring will be sure to knock others out. But the beauty in the ring is that it can fit in at a dive bar or at an elegant cocktail party. Because let’s face it, a girl can’t be a badass 24/7.

The start of the wedding season has officially kicked off, at least for me. From August to October, it’s going to be matrimony mayhem, as friends from all walks of life take their walk down that aisle.

Thankfully, I’ve been saving up a couple dresses just for these occasions, so after a summer of almost fall-like clothes (where’d our SoCal summer go?), I’m finally able to don some chiffon, rosettes and girly girl heels.

Of course, wedding trends as they are, it’s no surprise that so far the nuptial ceremonies have been located in venues not so girly-girl friendly. One was at a beach — and I mean literally on crunchy, grainy sand. Another was in a state park by a gorgeous, meandering tree — only reachable after a three-minute walk on dirt and wood chips. For sites to say a romantic “I do” — perfect. For guests (like me) who generally live by the mantra of stilettos or nothing — not so much.

A stunning venue to say "I do." Now, how to get there?

Needless to say, a hard-core heel fanatic isn’t going to let a few wood chips slow her down. I can run in my heels if need be. But no painful maneuvering of wood chips was necessary this time. I had a plan.

Now, everyone’s looking for the next big I-can’t-believe-I-lived-without-this thing, and as an editor, you see it all. I’ve seen everything from portable bag hangers to all manner of shapewear to fashion fix-it kits. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of portable flats — little shoes you carry in your purse in case you need to change out of those stilettos. At first, I thought, OK, handy for those long plane rides or hotel rooms. After all, most of them look and feel like little more than glorified foot socks.

But then they got smart. And inventive. Everything from biodegradable to roll-up to carrying cases.

CitySlips in black. Also available in silver and gold.

So I tried a pair out. As soon as those wood chips showed up on our hike to that glorious tree where my colleague would say her vows, I switched out my stilettos for a pair of black faux leather CitySlips flats. With a hard rubber sole (that you can still fold in half), leather-like finish, soft micro-suede lining and sturdy construction (not a glorified sock), I almost felt chic in my flats, like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.

Success! Stilettos saved, feet splinter-free and, most importantly, the nuptials by the tree were gorgeous and worth every step. Just one more beach wedding to go!

My go-to solution for a bad hair day has always been to don a hat. But I used to always borrow my boyfriend’s hats for these occasions. My head is kind of big so girls’ fedoras hardly ever look good on me.  They’re always too small and cramp on my big head.  So when we broke up, I was kind of sad because I didn’t have anyone’s hat to wear anymore.  But I wouldn’t even need to have a bad hair day to wear this IZESX Grosgrain Band Fedora! In the matchable shade of Mocha, this fedora is perfect for the reigning hipster who wants to cap her noggin with something fashionable.

LIMITED TICKET AVAILABILITY, ON SALE NOW!

Tickets are on sale now! Sponsored by Ketel One Vodka, Audrey Magazine is hosting Audrey’s Night Out 2010, a fashion event bringing the Asian American community together for an evening of fashion, fantasy and fun!

Collaborating with some of the most exciting talent in the fashion, entertainment and music industries, Audrey’s Night Out will include hot celebrity and professional models in the coolest fall fashion, amazing musical performances you won’t wanna miss, and a fabulous star-studded after-party with hosted bar.

Get your tickets now, and don’t delay. Not only do tickets sell out fast every year, but fashion show seating is assigned based on order of ticket purchase. Don’t be stuck standing — get your tickets now!

The designer, Bryna Nicole McMills.

One thing I love about my job is discovering all this amazing talent in the fashion and beauty world. One thing that’s frustrating about my job as an editor of an Asian American women’s magazine is that much of that talent is of Asian descent — and we have limited room to feature them in our pages! I wish I could feature them all. Why are Asian Americans so dang brilliant?

Well, Bryna Nicole McMills is one of those brilliant Asian American talents. We’ve been featuring Bryna Nicole bags for years now, and only recently did I discover that McMills is of Asian descent. Started in 2006, the San Francisco-based line is McMills’ answer to everything in fashion that is not stiff, fussy or otherwise impractical. McMills favors “deceptively simple and relaxed shapes, and an unusually sophisticated sense of scale.”

Indeed, rather than bouncing from trend to trend, McMills designs bags that are meant for everyday, while still making you look completely put together. It’s a skill that is no small feat, let me tell you.

Like the Bryna Nicole “Tall Harlow” bag. Substantial and chic, yet a bit slouchy and velvety soft, for that just-threw-it-together look. Lined in a chic black and white floral print and in the season’s must-have caramel hue. It’s a classic that returns every season, but still always manages to look modern.

Bryna Nicole "Tall Harlow" bag in caramel.

Bryna Nicole is available at upscale stores like Nordstrom, and e-boutiques like Blondette and LuvCharlie. But you can own a Bryna Nicole “Tall Harlow” bag if you’re the lucky TGIFree Friday giveaway winner this week. Now, this giveaway is just too good for a simple “comment.” So here’s what you have to do:

1. Become a fan or “Like” our Facebook page.

2. Suggest to all your Facebook friends that they become a fan or “Like” our Facebook page.

3. Re-tweet this post for an extra entry.

4. Comment to this post and tell us that you did all the things above.

You have until September 8, 11:59 pm, to enter. (You must have a U.S. mailing address to win.) Good luck and happy Labor Day! Enjoy it while it lasts …

So, here’s the thing.

I’ve maybe worn denim maybe … twice … in the last year. Call it denim overload. Call it denim backlash. I once lived in a CNN of denim — all denim, all the time. And I got sick of it. And denim was banished to the back of my closet.

But denim is back. And not in the same way. Denim jackets, denim vests, even denim on denim.

Now, I’m not gonna go rushing back to the 24-hour cycle of jean dressing. There are just too many alternatives out there to stick to one fabric or look all the time. But given my denim hiatus, I have to say, the material is looking kinda fresh once again.

Perfect timing for Allison Izu Song. The Japanese American (married to a Korean, hence the last name) has come out with the perfect denim line. (Check out our profile on her in our Fall 2010 issue.)

Sure, Allison Izu is made for the petite woman. (Song herself boasts a respectable 5-foot-2.) But at 5-foot-6 (and a devotee of heels no less than four inches), her “UK” zipped capri fits me pretty perfectly. Perfectly skinny, perfectly dark, with the coolest bold gold zipper, but with a secret stretchy panel for those of us who enjoy a good meal or two. Read: no muffin top.

Suddenly, denim is looking refreshingly new. Now if only I can get that denim-on-denim thing right.