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.

Something for your Techy (Tech-Savy) Friends

Here is another set of gift ideas for specific people. The Facebook "Like" sticky pad (or "Dislike"if you stick it upside down) is a good stocking stuffer for just about anybody since so many of us like to "Like" things everyday.  (Don't forget to Like us on Facebook by Wednesday the 14th to win free tickets to the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar.)

Give them an ipad-sized calculator in the format that makes them most happy: apps. Ah, apps make life so much easier...

The "Get Wired" frame is made of Recycled, Cut Wires. Print them a picture to be framed in it -- Even the most devout techy misses developed (non-digitized) photos!


Salt and Pepper battery shakers: Your techy friends have to eat at some point- Let them power up their food with battery life!


The "I'd Rather Be..." mousepad is good for coworkers at the office or people you know work away on a mouse all day. Give them a chance to daydream of alternate activities on this tear away note/mousepad! They'll love you for it!

A Good Pick at a Good Price

Today a customer came up to the counter with an impressive group of stocking stuffers.
When I totalled her out, I was surprised when her total was only $25! I took a quick
snapshot of it before bagging it so that I could share it here.

We have both fun and practical (though in a beauty store, practical still means fun) stocking stuffers, Come by; and save time and money!

From L to R: Rhinestone Cushion File, Multi-color pen, Pocket Magnifiers,

  Calypso Magnet, Wooden Girl Fashion

 Pen

A Gift for a Very Specific Person

As I was stocking shelves at the Beauty Store today, I realized that amongst the many gifts that would make the general population happy, we also carry some niche gifts for very specific friends. Today, I found gifts for your Seamstress friend.  The ducky is about $3.99 and we've agreed at the store that the sound of the tape being pulled out is reminiscent of a duck. The rhinestone measuring tape is $12.50 ; and the multi-purpose pouch is also $12.50.  I'll continue to post more of these niche gifts as I find them.  If you need gift advice, feel free to ask. I'll look for things and post them here.

2011 Beauty Store Holiday Shopping Chart

Gifts for the Kitchen

Q:  I just bought a Groupon last month to your store. Time is so precious right now that I'm hoping to do most of my holiday shopping in as little stores as possible. Looking at my list of people, I have lots of foodie friends that spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I'm coming by this week for my travel beauty needs, do you have any gift suggestions for the people on my list?

A: We're going to kill two birds with one stone in this gift suggestion. This time next week, you will be cleaning up remnants of turkey, pecan pie, and mashed potatoes; but let us think about the moments that will lead up to that point and how these gifts can add fun to time spent in the kitchen this holiday season.  To answer your question, these also make excellent gifts if you have any bakers or cooks on your list!

Shark Mitts: Get some laughs as you pull turkey, ham, or baked goods in and out of the oven Jaws style!
Dish Towels: Cat Studio's geography collection is a great gift, bringing beautiful memories of beloved cities, states, and countries, into the kitchen. We also have a collection of cute, retro towels by Blue Q.
Peace Tools: Slice a Piece of something with Peace slicing wheels; or give peace a chance as you peel potatoes with Victory Veggie Peelers.
Beautiful Babushkas: We've got timers and measuring cups that will put a beautiful smile on the beholder.
 Magnets: Come by to see the best in Kitchen entertainment - Magnets by Anne Taintor, Ephemera, and more!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!!! and Happy Holidays!!!

Look out for our Next Posting: Gifts within specific price ranges.