He’s doubled down at every milestone in his life to further the projects he believed in. He’s 42 now and according to Forbes, he’s worth an estimated 2.5 billion. I’m of course speaking of, and dedicating this post to, the very inspiring Elon Musk.

Elon standing in front of the engines of SpaceX’s Falcon 9

The Tesla Model S Electric Car – an electric car that can travel up to 200 miles without needing to recharge

Elon’s reveals his newest project – The Model X

I read an article in the April 2012 issue of Forbes about Elon – here’s a small excerpt of the article by Hannah Elliott:

“It’s Thursday morning in Bel Air, California, and Elon Musk, his cheeks still wet with aftershave, has retreated to the basement theater of his 20,000-square-foot French Nouveau mansion, which he’s converted into a man cave suitable for business or play.

The leather couch and coffee table inscribed with the periodic table serve as a de facto workstation, a retreat for the e-mails he shoots out past midnight and his research on such things as the Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator, the “best heat shield known to man.” But rather than trudge to the office when the rest of the world is awake, the 40-year-old billionaire founder of electric carmaker Tesla and SpaceX, the first private company to put a vehicle into orbit, is teaching me how to play BioShock, an Ayn Rand–esque first-person shooter epic.”

Born in South Africa, Musk grew up classically nerdy.  He was much smarter than his classmates, knew it and used it as his defense.  At the age of 11 he programmed his first video game.  With on entrepreneurial spirit, he tried to sell it.

Elon fled South Africa to avoid being drafted into a war he didn’t believe in and fled to Canada with no money, no idea what he was going to do and really, no one to help him.  He ended up going to the University of Pennsylvania, graduating and going out west to Stanford for grad school.  He dropped out, as all great thinkers tend to do, and created his first startup – Zip2 with his brother Kimbal Musk.  They sold that and went on to start their next project – PayPal.

After the sale of Paypal for 1.5 billion, Elon could have bought an island somewhere and sipped umbrella drinks for the rest of his life.  But he wasn’t finished, not by a long shot.  He then created SpaceX, which is making NASA’s rockets obsolete; and Tesla Motors – a fully-electric, high-performance line of cars that can drive over 200 miles without needing to recharge.

I personally find all of the components of Elon’s life truly inspirational, especially in a world of such self-entitlement.  It’s not wealth that drives people like Elon, it’s knowing that he has the ability to change the world for the better.  There is no trick to fulfilling your dreams… it takes passion, hard work, and perseverance through your darkest hour – it’s not luck.

Elon is young and like all uber-successful people, he probably hasn’t found his balance between personal and work life yet, but he’s got time.  For now, we should all just feel lucky the world can benefit from such a real-life Iron Man.

To simplify things – I’ll say New York is “Fashion Week” and “Vogue” and LA is “Hollywood.”  I’ll also say that neither is better than the other, but each have very different aesthetics… and rightfully so.

LA has continuous sunshine, the beach – it’s a city so sprawled out that it requires a car to get around. NY is harsh winters (like we’ve had) and pedestrians on foot walking through a concrete jungle.

Of course the aesthetic will be different because the inspiration is different.  NY has more of an edge.  New Yorkers reading this – you know what I mean.

I would say over 85% of working actors have their teeth done… and you can see it.  It results in a lot of cookie-cutter, perfectly straight, white teeth.  And I’ll tell you a trade secret – in LA most of the dental labs actually use a different kind of porcelain veneer (one that in this dentist’s opinion is inferior in it’s aesthetic).  It tends to be a bit thicker, whiter in color (or more opaque) and is actually easier to create.  It’s called Pressed Ceramic and a lot of “Hollywood” has it.  More so in LA, the aesthetic tends to be a bit more perfect.  And why wouldn’t it be?  They don’t gain “winter weight” like we do, they have to be beach ready at a moment’s notice.  This bleeds into their dermatology, plastic surgery and dentistry.  It’s a much more perfect look.

New York, on the other hand, well let’s just say we pride ourselves on the not so perfect look.  In NY, it’s all about that new designer that’s a bit edgier, that new hair stylist that is doing something different… it’s about high fashion.  But high fashion to us today is much different than it was in the past.  Downtown is in, uptown is old… Park Avenue is pretentious, TriBeca is cool.  When’s the last time you saw a hip restaurant in NY with customers dressed in power suits and proper dresses?  Exactly.  This is our aesthetic…it’s a fine line between looking casual, natural and beautiful.  And this is what is driving our top dermatologist, plastic surgeons and dentists.  And furthermore – the ceramic that we use is an old school powder-liquid formula that is applied with a paintbrush by a bone-fide artist.

Never get treatment from a dentist who runs specials.  Specials are run for expiring meat and stale doughnuts…not dentistry.

If you’re looking for specific treatment:  i.e. cosmetic dentistry, orthodontia, or oral surgery, try to see specialists in their respective fields.

The saying goes:

“Jack of all trades – master of none.”

General dentists that do everything are not as experienced as specialists who focus on specific areas of practice.

There are dentists today that have very slick marketing campaigns. This is really a double-edged sword. On one hand – it’s a good sign of creativity on their part – which every good cosmetic dentist should have.  On the other hand – don’t get swept up in the marketing and lose your vision of the type of treatment you desire and deserve. The best way to filter out a “marketer” from the real thing is to closely examine their work. Have them show you their work, lots of it. And make sure it’s their work and not someone else’s.

The first thing when looking at someone’s work is to look at the photography.  Any passionate cosmetic or esthetic dentist will care about their photography which means high-res, clear, color-correct images free of debris, saliva etc.  The photographs are a doorway into their work; you cannot be successful in today’s dentistry if you’re not photographing it… for many reasons.  It’s pretty easy to examine the quality or level of the esthetic capability in someone’s work simply by asking yourself if it’s something that you’d be happy with.

The trick is to look closely at the ‘after’ teeth and make sure they resemble an actual tooth, not a veneer or crown.  All Esthetic dentistry should look “invisible”.

Some Dentists are professors at Dental Schools, highly published in their field, researchers, etc.  I believe that Dentists who are leaders in their profession have some affiliation to a University and do lecture to their peers.

The trick is to find the Dentists that have a good mix of teaching and practicing.  Being solely an educator does not necessarily make for a good operator.  Conversely, being a good operator without any educational ties could leave the practitioner behind in the latest technologies or techniques.  It’s good to have a nice mix of both.

The last part is the intangible.  It’s the feeling you get when you meet the Doctor.  After all, you are putting your health or smile in their hands.  You are creating a special partnership that both parties have to be on board with.

The results of any cosmetic or esthetic procedure is not 100 percent predictable.  Therefore, having a doctor that you trust and will help you through any bumps along the road is invaluable. This is why some of the best referrals come from close friends or family who have been treated and already experienced the doctor’s care.

I hope these tips are helpful.  If you have any questions, please write in to the site and I will answer back to help guide you through your journey.

Some general dentists also do orthodontia, but I send both of my kids both to a board-certified orthodontist - a specialist – who solely practices orthodontia.   Cosmetic or ‘esthetic’ dentistry is not a specialty.  In fact, I would say that more than 85 percent of practicing general dentists also practice cosmetic dentistry.  In my office, we have been fortunate enough to be able to only practice esthetic dentistry.   This was not by chance… my partner started the first continuing education program teaching Esthetic Dentistry to practicing dentists and I started the first undergraduate Esthetic Dentistry program at NYU.  Because of this and also our reputations, we are looked at as esthetic “specialists” who only see these types of cases and do not practice “general” dentistry.  The upshot of all this is that not only do we see a lot of new patients, but we also get a lot of revision work.

Revisions are harder to be successful at due to the fact that most of cases we see are over-prepared.  This means the underlying teeth are cut down and/or the gums are inflamed from ill-fitting veneers or crowns.  Another commonality is that the teeth are not esthetic.  Simply put, good veneers or crowns should mimic a natural tooth.  If you don’t know what I mean, look at a natural tooth and observe the color transitions, shapes, thickness, edges, form and texture before you commit to getting new veneers.  You will be able to be your own judge.  Your veneers/crowns should mimic the way your natural teeth would meet the gumline – it should be a smooth transition.  The gums should be tight and pink with stippling.  If these characteristics are not present you might see redness or a ring where the gum meets the tooth, some bleeding when you floss or a loss of stippling.

Take a look at the patient below.  Now to most people this doesn’t look too bad.

 

 

 

Now here we are with the replacements. Notice the nice, thin tooth-form; the slight rotation of the supporting front teeth; and the color, texture and overall form of the teeth.

You can see what a difference it makes in the smile, both close-up and full face shot.

The point of this article is for you, the consumer, to know the right questions to ask before committing to a dentist. Getting a new smile is a fairly easy procedure with very little downside. The key is to see your doctor’s own before and afters of cases they have done that are similar to yours. Then examine these key findings we spoke of closely..you’ll see it now. Good luck and please, if you are considering doing this and have questions, use this forum to ask.

And while Hungary, Poland, Thailand, India, and Singapore are fast emerging as top spots for dental work, some are traveling to the U.S. for treatments. Call it Reverse Dental Tourism. And it makes sense, given Americans’ worldwide reputation for flaunting mouthfuls of pearly whites. But these aren’t your average bargain-hunting snaggle-toothed tourists.

Dr. Michael Apa, a partner in New York-based Rosenthal-Apa Group and pioneer in Facial Esthetic Design, is one of the world’s top cosmetic dentists. Beyond catering to celebrities such as Matt Dillon, Chloë Sevigny, and the Trumps, he also services many of the Middle East’s royal families, who pay upwards of $30,000 for his mouth makeovers—and who decamp to New York City for weeks at a time. As a result, Dr. Apa not only helps people looks years younger with porcelain veneers and facial asymmetry adjustments, but his practice also acts as de facto concierge and travel advisor. He was recently honored with a Five-Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Science for being “One of the Finest Dentists Worldwide.”

Travel + Leisure recently caught up with the doctor in NYC:

 
A:   For hotels, I love recommending patients stay at The Mark or Carlyle. For restaurants, Jean-Georges at The Mark, Cipriani, Crown, and downtown, Commerce Restaurant. It’s on the most picturesque corner in New York City.
 
 
Q: You divide your time between NYC and Dubai, where you also have an office. What UAE recommendations do you have?
 
A: I love to go to the desert—great restaurants and sightseeing. I always stay at the Royal Mirage in Dubai or Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, and always always make a trip to Zuma (Japanese) and Hakkasan (Chinese/Asian fusion) for dinner.
 
 
Q: Do you ever travel to donate your services to those people in need who may also need a smile makeover?
 
A: Yes. I am on the board of Operation Smile, which works in some 60 countries and helps children born with cleft palates. I’m also a member of Kageno, an organization that’s re-building, and helping the people of Rwanda.
 
 

Adrien Glover is the deputy digital editor at Travel + Leisure. This article was reprinted in its entirety. Click HERE for the original online article.
 
 

I love the enthusiasm, but unfortunately, like any foreign material put into our bodies, mother nature finds a way for the system to break it down.  Implants are not a permanent solution to missing teeth.  Like anything else - they have a shelf life… the only problem is they haven’t been around long enough to know what that expiration date is exactly.  If you’re reading this and you have dental implants, don’t fret… they are going to last you a long time… but we should go through a couple of key facts so that you are as informed as possible.

Below is a seriously botched implant shot… ok, maybe this isn’t the norm, but all the same – it’s real.

Just like my hairline, overtime gums recede.  What does that really mean?  Well, for the gum to actually recede the bone supporting the tooth or implant is receding which causes the gum to recede with it.  With a tooth, you have a ligament and a certain surface called cementum which is a great surface to graft to.  Simply, when the gum recedes around a tooth, you can place it with a gum graft which will give it new support… unfortunately, you cannot do this with an implant.  When the gum recedes around an implant you’re left with titanium showing and it’s not pretty.

 
 

It’s not easy to successfully take out a tooth and replace it with an implant and have the end result look like a real tooth.  Any dentist can take a tooth out, and most can place implants – it’s the details of how you do it that makes it a success.  If the necessary steps are not followed, you end up with a solid long tooth – one that looks like it belongs to a walrus rather than a

Above is a before and after where you can see an implant handled incorrectly and later corrected. See if you can figure out which is the implant?

I was able to recognize a gap in patient care in Dubai. When I first visited I was submerged in a city that had been born in less than 10 years.  A city that had every high end fashion brand, beautiful seven-star hotels, cars, restaurants…everything.  But I felt there wasn’t the level of dentistry that I knew I could provide.

The problem I was faced with was time.  Utilizing a clever combination of today’s web technology and luxurious travel, I was able to efficiently offer a product, one that you would receive if you came to my office in NY.   I announced to the press that I would be making these trips – word traveled quickly and soon I found myself in demand.  I set up pre-screen appointments where a patient could go into the existing office in Dubai, have their records taken and schedule a virtual consultation with me in NY.  We would go over treatment options, cost and appointments and set the schedule.

I started with four planned week-long trips a year, scheduling 10 patients per trip for full smile makeovers.  We would fly out Thursday night after work in NY, get in Friday night to Dubai.  Our first patient would be scheduled for Saturday at 9 AM, where we would work for 3 straight 12-hr days.  Tuesday morning, at 2:00 AM, an assistant from Dubai would fly all of the cases back to NY to have all of the teeth made.

My ceramist and his team would literally work for 3 days straight through the night and would fly all of the teeth back on Thursday to arrive in Dubai Friday morning at 8 AM.  The teeth would come straight from the airport to the office where the first patient to receive their new smile would be in the chair waiting.  We would finish up Sunday night and take the 2 AM flight to get us into NY  by 8 AM in time for patients on Monday.

Thanks to Emirates Airline, my ceramist Jason Kim, my treatment coordinator Jackie and my assistant Kathy, we were doing something that had never been done in my field.  The biggest reward professionally has always been to create something new and unique.  Through my travels, I’ve had some unbelievable experiences, made great friends and most of all pushed into a new chapter in my career.

Spring is just around the corner – A season of new beginnings and change. Here are a few of the confident, feminine Spring ’13 runway trends to be incorporating into your style for the change we all love to welcome- fashion!

Ruffles were everywhere on the runways- Givenchy, Gucci, Balenciaga and yes Rachel Roy! I showed a wearable version of the couture Ruffle done as a soft peplum on a knee-length cocktail dress in a vibrant neon trim. The scale of the ruffle is what is key- large scale says drama and strength, more hard then sweet- and a softer yet structured ruffle (the way I used it in my spring show) may give the garment a longer life in your wardrobe- either way it’s total lux impact on sight as well as one of the most modern of the spring runway trends.

Spring also told a multi-layered story everywhere you looked. Pattern and texture mix and matches dominated every major design house. From Erdem, Preen, to Bottega Veneta it was about layering different prints over one another to achieve a fresh story without ever opening your mouth! A favorite of mine is a print mixed caftan, lighter on the top – perfect ease on vacay.

Single sole shoes! Platforms no longer dominate the style scene. Now if you want to be at the head of the class, go for pointy single sole numbers. Some favorites are Manolo’s classic elegant shapes as well as my RR Ana style, no need to complicated matters- go for the classic shape to be completely modern.

Spring took a delicate tradition and gave it a bold modern spin that feels fresh and absolutely modern: Valentino, Vera Wang, Giambattista Valli and I used the once delicate style on all shapes. Easy transition into everyday life: pencil skirts and wide leg trousers – easy for work or play.

The easiest trend to incorporate into your spring closet is the contrast of gypsy chic arm candy- throw in strong metals with collected friendship bracelets and colorful beaded cuffs to achieve the one statement that says the most about you- that you are a mix and a blend of lux chic to downtown boho to third world charm…wear your travels on your arm this spring- it may be a trend that never goes away…

Check out all of Rachel’s Spring looks from the Spring/Summer 2013 Collection

Here are more of Rachel’s Spring Fashion Tips

Patients who experience sensitivity when they brush or drink hot or cold liquids usually have similar underlying issues with their teeth. The most common issues actually have something to do with the gums. Let me explain – your tooth has three layers to it.

The first is the ENAMEL, which is the hardest, shiniest and strongest part of the tooth.  Enamel covers the “clinical crown” of the tooth, which is the part of tooth you see when you look at your teeth.  It’s very dense in its makeup and because of that, it doesn’t allow liquids to penetrate into the nerve of the tooth and cause temperature sensitivity.

Below the enamel is the softer, yellower, more porous layer called DENTIN.   Patients who grind their teeth can actually wear through the enamel right into the dentin.  When this happens it exposes this softer, porous layer to communicate with your mouth.  Therefore hot or cold liquids or anything abrasive will have more of an effect on your teeth.

The third layer of your teeth is something called CEMENTUM, which is the layer that surrounds the root of the tooth below the gumline.  As your gums recede, this becomes exposed and is the most porous, softest layer of the tooth.  This is where some extreme sensitivity can come from.  So now that we know what causes it, how do we use the products available to us to combat it?

The first key component to stopping sensitivity is to use the proper brush.  It is imperative to use a soft-bristled brush.  Most people think that the harder the brush, the more stains you can get at, but actually the hard-bristled brushes can actually wear away your healthy enamel.  Buying the right electric toothbrush and using it properly will help.

The next thing you need is the right toothpaste.  Unfortunately, most “whitening” toothpastes have heavy silica particles in them which is what “whitens” the teeth via stain removal.  (As a side note, no whitening toothpaste actually “bleaches” your teeth, they simply “whiten” by removing stains)  So we have to avoid using these if you’re experiencing sensitivity.  It’s best to use a paste that contains potassium nitrate, recaldent, amorphous calcium phosphate or heavy doses of fluoride.  What these do is close down or calcify the pores on the exposed cementum or dentin, which will reduce sensitivity.  Toothpastes I recommend are Sensodyne or Crest Sensitive.

For mouth rinses, it is crucial to stay away from anything with alcohol.  Alcohol can actually aggravate your gums and cause irritation that will further expose the cementum layer.  The best thing is to use a rinse with a high-fluoride content, I recommend ACT.  It doesn’t contain alcohol and it does have a high-fluoride content.

I have one more trick to help control sensitivity.  Much of it is caused from grinding or clenching your teeth.  It happens because you’re physically wearing away enamel as well as putting constant pressure on the teeth that leaves them swollen, in a way.  For immediate results, go to your dentist and get fitted for a nightguard.  It’s not sexy, I know, but it will help.

Hope these tips help. If you have questions just type your comment below, I answer them all personally.

Here are step by step instructions on how to get Rachel’s new hairstyle and makeup for Spring from her talented stylists Ted Gibson, Celebrity Stylist, and Makeup Artist, Cynde Watson.

 

After shampooing hair, towel dry and spray with Build It Blowdrying Agent for texture

 

Blow dry hair with a round brush and part hair with a middle part

 

Using a large barrel curling iron (2″ or more) wrap random sections of hair around the barrel to create loose waves

 

Run your fingers through the hair to break up the waves so they are not so contrived

 

Finish with Beautiful Hold Hairspray to hold it all in place

 

It’s time to update your skincare from Winter products to Spring. Make a transition from a heavy moisturizer to a lightweight hydrating face lotion with sunscreen.

 

Our suggestions for Lightweight Moisturizer/Face Lotion:

 

• ANTHONY LOGISTICS Lightweight Face Lotion (Oil and lanolin-free). Contains silk amino acids to enhance water retention, retexturize, and ease the appearance of fine lines. SPF 15. Allergy tested. Never tested on animals.

 

• BOBBI BROWN Protective Face Lotion SPF 15 -This lightweight, moisturizing lotion hydrates as Anti-Oxidant Vitamin E aids in fighting skin-damaging free radicals; Chamomile calms and soothes.

 

• OLAY Total Effects Fragrance-Free Moisturizer With Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15. This daily all-in-one SPF 15 moisturizer fights 7 signs of aging and helps protect against UVA/UVB rays with a proven vitamin-rich complex for younger-looking skin.

How to create a flawless face: the Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer should match your skin exactly. For best results test three shades on your jawline and blend. Select the shade that completely disappears into the skin. Use a damp sponge (BEAUTY BLENDER SPONGE) when applying your foundation/tinted moisturizer.

When using a powder foundation, tap off your brush before applying to your face. Complete application with a makeup finishing spray like SKINDANAVIA to keep your face fresh.

Recommended Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer/Powder Foundation

• MAKE UP FOR EVER – HD Foundation (Rachel’s shade is “173″)

 

• RICH Cosmetics – Anti-Oxidant Dual Powder Foundation with Sunscreen (Rachel’s shade is “Cinnamon”)

 

• JOUER Cosmetics – Matte Moisture Tint (Rachel’s shade is “Hazel”)

How to get the look:

• Apply a soft wash of “Gunmetal” from the URBAN DECAY NAKED eye shadow palette from lid to crease with a blending brush. To make eyes pop, trace eye line top and bottom close to your lash line with “Creep” from the same eye shadow palette with an eyeliner brush.

 

• Apply 3 coats of VOLUMIZING MASCARA RICH Cosmetics “Volume X” Mascara or to really make your eyes pop – add individual lashes

 

• Note: When filling in your eyebrows, choose a pencil or eye shadow that matches the shade of your eyebrows not your hair color.

How to create: Apply BRONZER (Lorac Blush/Bronzer Duo) on temples, forehead and hollows of cheeks beneath your cheekbones. Pop BLUSH on the apples of your cheeks and back towards your ears and blend. Note: always tap of brush before applying bronzer or blush

How to create:

• Apply lip balm and blot. Color lips in with “Plum Rouge” lipstick pencil by Color by Cynde Watson

Huge thanks to both Cynde Watson and Ted Gibson for sharing their Spring tips with us! Check out Cynde Watson’s line of makeup Color by Cynde Watson HERE and Ted Gibson’s line of products HERE
 

Here’s a pic of Cynde doing Rachel’s makeup that we like~