Earth day: EDUCATE TO CELEBRATE

I did a little wikipedia search this morning on Earth Day and learned that it was originally instituted as a day to teach communities about environmental issues in hopes of leading people to take action against those causing these environmental issues. Its leader was inspired after seeing the destruction caused by the third largest oil spill in the United States: the Santa Barbara oil spill.

Though more recent Earth Day's are not so much about education and action, (perhaps many will not even think about the environment today) I decided that this blog would be dedicated to informing our Beautiful community about how the products we have at the Beauty Store are taking action for our Earth. Also, today, April 22, 2012, refuse a bag at the Beauty Store, and received 5 punches on your Beauty Store Punch Card!!!

PAUL MITCHELL
Perhaps one of the most action-oriented brands in our store is Paul Mitchell
They plant trees, refuse to test on animals, have sustainable solar-powered farms, and are constantly conceiving ideas on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
http://www.paulmitchell.com/en-us/OurStory/CaringForOurPlanet/Pages/Home.aspx

JOICO
Joico is commited to moving towards wind energy and reducing their use of unsustainable energy by 100% in 2012. They aim to be the first US beauty company to completely neutralize their carbon footprint by 2013 (http://joico.com/ourcompany/eco). Future bottling will be using post-consumer recycled materials.  http://joico.com/ourcompany/beautifyresponsibly

DE LORENZO
Environmentally Responsible maker of sulfate free color-depositing shampoos, De Lorenzo "strongly opposes animal testing," uses no petro-chemicals, and endorses sustainable farms. http://www.delorenzo.com.au/online/about-us/our-core-values.html


JANE IREDALE
From re-fillable compact cases, green organizations (such as Green Peace, Wildlife Conservation Society and The Nature Conservancy), to donating to local gardens, Jane Iredale is motivated by their concern for their customers and the environment. https://janeiredale.com/us/en/our-commitments.htm

PUREOLOGY
http://www.pureology.com/sustainability-new

If you love it so much, why don't you marry it?!

I love helping Beauty Store Bride-to-Be's pick out nail polish: that special color that will grace her hands as she nervously holds her bouquet down the aisle, the color that will be seen in photos as the groom vows to love her even through the not-so-colorful times. I love talking with a bride-to-be about how she feels about her upcoming wedding while searching the walls of color for the one that will capture her joy and calm her jitters.

When my sister married 4 years ago, she gave me the honor of picking out her nail polish color. Knowing she loves pink, OPI's Chapel of Love was the winning candidate. (Yes, I am a sucker for letting polish names guide me. Chapel of Love is discontinued, but Elephantistic Pink has a similar vintage quality.) This summer, my younger sister is marrying her soul mate; and I am already browsing the shelves of OPI and Essie, in search of a color that will represent her and that will be a time capsule for the many memories that will be created July 8.

Here is a list of some of our favorite wedding polishes:
Come by any of our locations; and we'll show them to you or help you pick the perfect bride's polish!  (10% off your bride-to-be polish if you show us your wedding invitation)

1. OPI - Altar Ego (My personal favorite)
2. Essie - Sequin Sash
3. OPI's Sheer Romance Collection from 2002 is a timeless palette with plenty to pick from.
4. OPI's NYC Ballet Collection (Spring 2012) has elegant, muted pinks like Barre my Soul, You Callin' Me a Lyre. They also have a sheer and sparkly confetti top coat for added glam.
5. Essie's - Mademoiselle
6. Essie's - Ballet Slippers

Valerie from Westlake store recommends: 
7. Deborah Lippman's light pinks - Sarah's Smile &  Baby Love
8. Stairway to Heaven - a white glittery polish



We are curious to know what color you wore to your wedding. Share your story below.

New York City Ballet Collection

Cute Easter Basket Gifts available at the Beauty Store

  







vintage porcelain bird whistles in 4 different colors

scented sachels

anne taintor tissue boxes

      flower pens

Spring Break (Part 3) - If you are staying at home

I was doing my best to just stay home for Spring Break. Get some Spring Cleaning done, catch up on movies and TV shows, and reflect on my goals for the year; but alas, the madness downtown has lured me in. For those of you fortunate enough to stay home the rest of this week, you can have my original plan - please, enjoy it for me.





1. Try four different Kneipp baths this week and let the essential oils first soothe, then reenergize me. I've also been wanting to try every Dresdner Essenz bath salt. A customer came in highly recommending them. She bought 12 of them!
    ( There is still time for 4 baths this week if you start today. )

2. Finish off cleaning triumphs with a new candle or fragrance. I was thinking one new Trapp votive per room completed OR treating myself to a Lampe Berger if all cleaning projects were finished!







3. Masking, Masking, Mani/pedicuring

   Pack on a couple of masks. Holy Mud has a few face masks I've been meaning to try; and Murad's Pomegranate Enzyme Mask is a Spring Break tradition of mine. (Of course, followed by sunscreen if I'm catching some sun.)
    While your face mask sets, pack something into your hair. Phytonectar Oil works wonders with continued use. It is a pre-shampoo oil; so if you want a treatment that acts like a rinse, Phytokarite is my all time favorite.
    To celebrate the magic of multi-tasking, give yourself a mani/pedicure
while you give your masks time to work their magic. With all the new Spring colors available from OPI and Essie, it doesn't get anymore magical than that!


**How are you relaxing this week?

Spring Break Essentials (Part 2) If you are leaving Austin

The ongoing joke these days is, "I'm a local, I'm leaving Austin," in regards to Spring Break week. We understand, you love the city, you had your chance to do the Rodeo, SXSW, and even St. Patty's Day all over the city; but now you'd rather avoid the chaos.

If you are still packing bags, stop by the Beauty Store for your travel needs! These are things I can't travel without:

What Beauty Store items are your staple travel items?

Spring Break Essentials (part 1)

Part 1 of our Spring Break postings is dedicated to SXSW

 

    For those of you working by day and partying by night,
    here are my favorite eye creams:

          gLO eye restore: fight inflammation and dark circles with Vitamin K, Green Tea, Arnica

          gLo eye revitalize: Cucumber, squalene, hyaluronic acid, juniper, aloe, linoleic acids.

          Yonka Phytocontour:  Rosemary, beech buds, aloe vera and vitamin E (not at all locations)

        

Here are some things you will need and some things you might just enjoy having around SXSW:

New Arrivals that will make you smile.

We want to know what makes you happy about the springtime?

Lessons learned on Valentine's Day

I had high hopes to post a blog for Valentine's preparations; but I got tied up, celebrating my birthday, getting my taxes together, trying to recover from cedar fever, while showing up to my shift at the Beauty Store to help others get their gifts together <-- I saw some really good-looking gifts leave our store!

Since the official holiday has passed, here is a retrospective look at lessons I learned on Valentine's Day:

#1 Jane Iredale Lip Stains** = cleaner ingredients than a regular stain + cleaner kisses as your significant other does not kiss his way through thick glosses or end up wearing your favorite shade of lipstick.

 
#2 Men love tingly shampoo.
I say this based on the criteria they list as they seek shampoo advice from us at the Beauty Store as well as customer sound bytes: "my husband (or boyfriend) just loves that tingly shampoo." We carry many options of this sensation: Jack Black Turbo Wash, Nioxin Cleanser, Paul Mitchell Tea Tree, and many more!
 


#3  A salt and a scrub is a little gesture towards lots of happiness.
One of my favorite experiences was helping a Beauty Store customer pick a salt to soak her boyfriend's feet, a scrub to massage through his foot, and a finishing lotion. It is a fantastic idea for any day and any one to give a little of your time, hands, and just a tiny bit of cash.


Share your Valentine's Day gift stories; or let us know which Beauty Store products you used on Valentine's Day.



**IN STORE JANE IREDALE EVENT
Book a mini makeover today!
Feb 17, 2012
10-1 pm Central and South Locations
  2-5 pm Braker and Westlake Locations

Three Hand Helping Steps

I have been taking salsa lessons lately; and as we swap partners I feel all types of hands. While I appreciate the different character of each hand I hold, I must admit, I am self-conscious of my dry hands.  Working at the Beauty Store I get to moisturize all day long and have immaculate hands; but when I am off the clock, my hands take a beating from harsh hand soaps, playing and working outdoors, and cleaning. Here are products I run to before partnering up for hours of dancing and other products my fellow Beauty Store ladies and gentleman rave about.

1. Start with a Scrub: Like sanding wood for a good coat of primer, a scrub will remove dead skin cells and allow the newer skin to absorb moisture.  If you are looking for an oil+sugar combo, CND's Almond Moisture Scrub is happiness in a jar. I perfer OPI's Skin Renewal Scrub. It's a non-runny combo of fine sugar and sunflower seed oil.

2. Moisturize: It helps to moisturize while your hands are still damp. Here are some of our favorite moisturizers.

Glysolid
Aromas and funky colors do nothing for your hands - Your priority is to get your chapped hands feeling smooth! Glysolid focuses on delivering just that with no fragrance, no preservatives, no colors.
Learn More.

Pre de Provence 100% Shea Butter
Hailing from the goodness of organic trees, Pre de Provence
makes this thick cure for even the driest hands. No fragrance or added color. Available in travel size tins.



Hempz Original Hydrating Cream
I tried imitation Hempz products and quickly learned this is truly an original formula. If you are dubious about carrying around a bottle with this label, pour it out into a travel size for your purse. One day of using this cream and you will have a change of heart and hands. It can also be used as an all-over cream.   
Learn More.


 Jack Black's Industrial Strength Hand Healer
So what if it's in a man's line of skin care. I have rougher hands than my boyfriend; and I love this product!


This is from their website: This rich, non-greasy formula helps heal and soothe dry, chapped, cracked hands. Road-tested by golfers, carpenters and chefs, this hard-working hand cream repairs tough, calloused skin and cuticles, providing lasting relief. Especially effective for those who wash their hands a lot or spend time outdoors in rugged temperatures; because the palms and back of your hands have the fewest and smallest oil glands, they tend to get the driest.




Lippmann Rich Girl Hand Cream with Spf 15 (at west only)
Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, and sun protection in one tube. It is not so much about concealing your age from your hands as it is just being practical about the health of your hands. It is no wonder Leading dermatologists voted it Health Magazine's winner for "Healthiest Hand Cream."






Kneipp Intensive Balm 10% Urea

This is not a hand lotion; but as my obsession for Kneipp products continues; I try it all thier products on my hands. A pea sized amount of this balm is enough to hydrate both hands. With Urea(?) as its claim to fame, this balm stands alone as a unique moisturizer at the Beauty Store.

Hand and Nail Creams
The great thing about these creams is that they take nail health into consideration- after all, nails are on your hands. Dermalogica Multivitamin Hand and Nail Cream is a high-seller at our stores; so I will let that be its testimony. My favorites are Nailtiques Cuticle and Hand Conditioner and Avoplex Hand and Nail Cream by OPI. While Avoplex instantly hydrates my hands and keeps them moist for hours, Nailtiques Conditioner dramatically improved the entire condition of my hands, nails, and cuticles a few winters ago.



3. Treat
Glove Your Hands Overnight
Whether you decide to follow a lotion with cotton gloves or treat yourself to Gel gloves by Swissco soft and soothing (call to check availability), you will wake up ready to shake everyone's hands!


Paraffin Wax
Dip your hands into immediate renewal. We sell Gigi paraffin wax (various scents) and paraffin warmers at the Beauty Store (call to confirm availability). The warmth of the wax allows it to penetrate the skin, and nourish it with Shea Butter.

We want to hear your comments, suggestions, and testimonies! 

Subscribe today for a chance to win a hand care product.

Cuticle Crisis!

What are your cuticles looking like these days?  After spending the holidays in the kitchen, wrapping presents, or caroling out in the cold, your cuticles probably resemble the Zilker lawn after ACL weekend. Here are our favorite products to help heal and care for torn, dry, and overgrown cuticles.  ***Let us know what has worked for you; and check back next week  for  our list of lotions to help even the driest hands and your chance to win hand care.***

Qtica's Cuticle Repair Balm: This is a favorite of ours at the Central Beauty Store. It is a sticky formula that is less messy than oil, stays on longer, and is tacky enough to make you not want to be picking away at your cuticles.                                                                                                                      

Solar Oil: The packaging has changed on this bad boy; but the formula remains the same miracle working magic potion. Jojoba Oil carries Vitamin E deep in to the skin it is applied to. I rubbed this around my cuticles several times a day and within a week of that consistency, I had the happiest cuticles in Austin. 

Heidi's Nail Solution: I've never had a chance to try this product because it is always flying off our shelves; and it is no wonder it does: Heidi's guarantees a 50% reduction of hangnails and rough cuticles by applying the solution twice a day for a consecutive 3 days, no trimming nor cutting required.

Be Natural Cuticle Eliminator: For stubborn cuticles that seem to adhere to your nailbed, apply cuticle eliminator and let it do the work for you. (If you already use callus eliminator, you know what I am talking about.)

 Tools:

Cuticle Nippers: We carry these in several brands; but I've always trusted Tweezerman for their precision; and they offer free sharpening! (This is a product you'll want to keep sharp.)

Cuticle Pushers:  While you should not completely push back or remove cuticles because they protect your nails from bacteria, these tools help push dead skin off the nail bed and lift excess cuticles to be nipped away.

*Metal pushers are sturdy and washable

*Nail stones are strong but can be abrasive

*Orangewoodsticks are easy to dispose and gentle on the nail bed.

**My favorite are OPI's plastic cuticle pushers.  They are double-sided, washable, and gentle.