"Look Good... Feel Better" for the American Cancer Society

We are official! Certified to teach the
ACS's "Look Good... Feel Better" program
to all women going through cancer treatments.
Giving Love, Showing Support and Encouraging Hope!

Patients in various stages of treatment receive make-over tips and personal attention from professionals trained to meet their needs. They also use and take home complimentary cosmetic kits in their appropriate skin tones (light, medium, dark, extra dark) with helpful instruction booklets. Professional advice is provided on wigs, scarves and accessories. More than 50,000 individuals participate each year in small groups of five to ten, offering each patient a supportive circle, as well.

By encouraging your friend or family member to attend a Look Good…Feel Better group program, you help promote an important tool for coping. A recent study showed that only a small percentage of female patients knew about or attended any type of support program. Instead, patients said they relied on the advice of family and friends to deal with these concerns. So what can you do for a woman close to you who is experiencing the appearance-related side effects of cancer?
Tell them about Look Good... Feel Better!

For more information: www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org

BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR

Back by Popular Demand!

Make a Senior's HOLIDAY!!!
(they are usually the ones forgotten)

Stop by the Spa & Choose A Tag off our

Holiday Tree...

Choose a tag

Purchase one of the two choices or Buy a giftcard

Return the tag and gift to the spa by DEC. 12,
wrapped or unwrapped...


And you have just succeeded in spreading Love & Good Cheer!

Thank you for your generosity this holiday season...

"For it is in GIVING that we RECEIVE."

The 29 Day Giving Challenge

I recently read a great article on twitter... The 29 Day Giving Challenge.
The idea is basically to give away 29 gifts in 29 days. Your 29 Gifts can be anything given to anyone... money, food, old sweaters, smiles, your time, kind words or thoughts.
I thought this was a great way to kick off the holiday season...

After reading the post and checking out the website, I started thinking. I have done this for at least the last 29 days! I didn't even realize! For me, this concept is simple and an important part of my every day. But after reading a few follow-up posts, I realized, some feel this is complicated. Unfortunately many never even think of trying.

Yes, the economy is rough and affecting everyone. But this is when we should share all of our individual strengths and talents - by helping each other. Instead of money this holiday, why not share your time, talent, your wisdom or a smile. That may sound simple, but that is really what so many need now. That is true beauty.

So I would like to invite you to accept The 29 Day Giving Challenge this holiday season. Be creative and I can guarantee your holiday will be better than you ever expected, especially when you give to others...

"The best way to attract abundance into your life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude."

Flawless Foundation for Fall

In the process of reviewing, refilling and revamping my mother-in-laws makeup bag for the fall, I ran across a great new find for the fall...

COVERGIRL/OLAY Simply Ageless Foundation with SPF 22.

It is a unique blend of cream foundation and moisturizer! A perfect combination for the fall.
It glides on with medium coverage (taking away my redness but I can still see my freckles) and you only need a small application. It is easy to blend and it goes completely matte (you can spritz with toner or water if you want a more dewy look).

Up until now I have loved mineral foundation for everyday. In the fall when the weather and my skin get a bit drier, it tends to make me a bit itchy. If this happens to you too, try layering a medium moisturizer under the minerals. Wait until the moisturizer is about 90% absorbed into your skin and then apply the mineral foundation. Again, spritz with a light toner or water to eliminate the "powdery" look. Sheer Coverage is still my favorite brand and is pretty easy to find these days. I like that you can change the color blend, adding lite or dark, depending on the time of year.

If you prefer no makeup or a much lighter coverage, consider tinted moisturizer. Our skin does need something onto to protect us from premature aging and environmental damage. Try a few products, there are many to choose from. My favorite still is Laura Mercier. The coverage is excellent and they are easy to blend. I use these for photo shoots all the time, it still allows your skin to show through.

Need heavier coverage? Super, sensitive skin? Try Cinema Secrets foundation. Full strength I use this to cover tattoos. For a lighter, full-coverage dampen your sponge and it becomes more liquid with tons of pigmentation for concealing.

TIPS for a Flawless Face:

1. Hydrate at night, when skin renews itself.

2. Exfoliate regularly, this takes away all dead skin and flakiness for a better makeup application.

3. Try a primer, a silicone based product on top of moisturizer allows for a smooth surface and your foundation will glide on "like butter".

4. Go 1/2 shade darker when choosing your foundation color. If the foundation is too light it will wash you out and look tired.

5. Blend foundation! Towards your ears, over the tip and sides of your nose, down & over your jawline and onto your neck. Always Blend it out!

6. Less is more, let your natural skin and freckles show through. Unless you are in a soap opera or on stage, thick foundation is OUT.

7. Pigment, depending on your skin's flaws choose a foundation with coverage. Application can be light but stronger pigment will give you better coverage (this is the key).

8. Sunscreen. Whether your makeup has sunscreen or not, protect your skin today from further damage. Even though summer is over, keep up the SPF.

9. Keep your hands off your face. My mother would tell me this every five minutes growing up. It is true. Most bacteria travels from our hands to our face creating breakouts.

10. SMILE. This is the most important. Who will notice any of your flaws with that bright beaming smile. Result = Flawless Face!

Save Your Skin... Transitioning from Summer to Fall

Whether you live on the East Coast, West Coast or somewhere in between - this is the time of year we start getting ready for the holidays. The most noticable difference is the weather and our schedules.

Here are a few quick fixes your skin will love you for...

Face:
Try cleansing with a foam cleanser (these usually give your skin a squeaky clean feel), apply a toner (love Epicuren Protein Mister and Bio Elements Equalizer), then follow with a thicker moisturizer to balance the change in climate. If only applying once a day, choose the evening (this is when your skin rests and regenerates - just like our bodies). Keep those lips kissable with your favorite lip balm before hitting the hay.

Exfoliate one more time a week. If you don't exfoliate, now is a great time to start. Eliminating dry skin will help keep your pores unclogged. If you have acne, check out the BYE BYE Blemish line. One of my MUST haves is the drying lotion (sulfur based). It gets rid of breakouts and even soon to be breakouts in 1-2 days!

Hands/Nails:
Nails tend to adjust to the change in weather abruptly. They become more brittle, dry and have more snags. Try keeping nails a slightly shorter functional length. Put cuticle oil at the base of your nails every night to moisturize and help new growth (try China Glaze Orange Cuticle Oil, smells great too) then follow with your favorite creamy moisturizing lotion (try Body Drench Body Creme', yum).

If you want the most youthful hands this recipe works great...
Exfoliate the tops of your hands and lightly mist with a toner. Apply a thick layer of creamy moisturizer and oil at your cuticles. Cover your hands with gloves, socks or mitts for at least 30 minutes.
Upon removal, massage remaining cream into your hands and drift off to sleep. You will wake with wonderfully smooth baby skin.

For severe cracking and chapping of hands or feet during winter months try personal paraffin dips once a week, they work great!

Body:
Better shaving and smoother sexy legs. Exfoliate with a body scrub the day before you plan on shaving to remove dead skin and loosen ingrown hairs. Use moisturizing shaving cream not soap. Shave after being in the shower for awhile (shampoo first), hair follicles are softer. Follow before leaving shower with an oil based moisturizer (Skin so Soft or Bath Dessert at bathjunkie.com).

Dry brush your entire body once a week before showering... your skin will thank you and be as smooth as butter!

WEEKEND WAXING FOR CHARITY Saturday AUG 29 & Sunday AUG 30

Waxing services all day!
ALL proceeds go to the
American Cancer Society
(Burbank Division)
and the spa will match all $ raised...

15 min. appointments (lips, nose, brow, etc.)

30 min. appointments (basic bikini, underarm, back, etc)

All waxing services are
50% off
two days only!!!!!

Nothing but waxing all day 10-6pm
perfect for the summer days.

Appointment recommended...

Great service, great deal and good reason...

Call now to book your time!

Limited to first come, first booked availability.

Summer time - How to stay young and look great!

The kids are out of school, next week is Fourth of July and I feel like last week was a glorious Memorial Day weekend...

So lets talk summer beauty.

I just turned 37 this year and I have received some interesting compliments in the past few months. People that just meet me, find out how old I am and want to know my secret! LOL

So besides having the experience of being a studio makeup artist for almost ten years (using lots of tips on myself that I found valuable from set,) and working in esthetics and the beauty field every day... I do have a few secrets up my sleeve. One of my first makeup mentors told me - NEVER keep your tricks to yourself - always share with others... you're never that good! And when you share, it will always come back to you.

So here you go... very simple "Keeping your Youth" tips for the summer and every day.

1. SUN Limit your sun exposure (especially during peak hours). I have wholeheartedly embraced the porcelain skin is beautiful concept. I am Irish & Swedish - say no more... Because I have limited my sun exposure for at least the past ten years and wear sunscreen on my chest, neck and face every day without fail - I think I have postponed some spotting and wrinkles.
- Using a sunscreen with ZINC and TITIANIUM DIOXIDE is best - they are the strongest.


2. SKINCARE At a minimum after you turn 30 years old, you need to re-evaluate your skincare. You need something more active for your skin than you did in your 20s. In your 40s & 50s you need something more active than in your 30s. I love the peptides and enzymes. Natural is great but you do need to check for an active ingredient. Vitamin C is quickly becoming a favorite of mine for clients as well as a minimally active Retinol. Exfoliation is the key and treatment for renewal at NIGHT (this is when your skin replenishes itself and rejuvenates).

3. A good ATTITUDE. I have always tried to be a positive person. We are in trying times... Your attitude does make a difference on your appearance and your wrinkles.
SMILE at one person a day... Always try to make lemonade from lemons and see the glass half full... try counting one blessing a day - and you will be surprised at how many days it takes for you to run out of things to be thankful for.

4. Nutrition and HEALTH. Simple I know, but very easily overlooked in our busy every day stresses and schedules. I recently lost 15 pounds since the beginning of the year. I started eating! My schedule is so busy sometimes, I was not making time to eat. My metabolism slowed down and I started adding weight. By adding something each day for breakfast, vitamins and oil capsule supplements - small meals and snacks throughout the day, I noticed a difference in my skin, hair and body. I also started hula hooping for a 1/2 hour in front of the TV every other night. I do not enjoy the gym and am usually tired after a long day, so this was manageable. Start with small goals - but make a CHANGE - YOU are worth it.
Your skin reflects what is happening inside.

5. MAKEUP For the summer I like to keep it simple. I LOVE tinted moisturizer over my normal skincare. If I have a special event, I use a light foundation or mineral foundation. My skin tends to be dry so I mist the minerals with toner or water after application to elevate the matte/pasty look. I use Cover Girl LASH BLAST, which I swear by for mascara - waterproof only if I am planning on swimming or crying (not everyday). I use like sparkly tones all over my lids with a nice neutral brown or fun plum or green to accentuate my eyes. For night or special events I will pop some deep plum or charcoal in the corner of my lower lid and slightly in the crease for drama. I use STYLI STYLE - line and seal eyeliner or wet a mineral eye shadow that will stay on all day long! Blush is light and blended and bronzer works well for some glow or color over my porcelain skin. I love to finish with tinted/toned chapstick or a lipgloss.
In the summer, I feel less is more and I love to see my skin through the makeup... another reason to take care of your skin.

So I hope I have inspired you to "stay young and look young" - although it really is all in how we feel - age is only a number... my goal is to grow wiser, gracefully. But trust me some days are easier than others. But have fun with it - try new products and ENJOY your summer.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you... and feel free to contact me with any questions or comments!

Remember, YOU are perfectly im-perfect... exactly as you were meant to be!!! And that is what makes YOU beautiful!

MAY is Skin Cancer AWARENESS Month

Sunscreen & Protective clothing is the KEY to preventing skin cancer.

After my Aunt passed away from a small mole on the top of her scalp that started as skin cancer and turned into bone and brain cancer, I decided I needed to spread the word on this silent but deadly disease.

My aunt was Irish through and through, very light skin. She loved golf and played whenever she got the chance. She always wore sunscreen and a visor but not a full hat. My aunt passed away four years after her hairstylist discovered a raised mole that suddenly appearance in her hair on her scalp.

Awareness and education is key to prevention. For the month of MAY we are advocating Skin Cancer Prevention at the spa. All clients will receive a samples of EPICUREN's sunscreen & a lip balm as well as a thought of the day card with reminders on checking for skin cancer.

Even though, we all love a great tan... remember the environment is changing and that tan could be dangerous. For more information go to www.skincancer.org.

Have a great month and help me spread the word...

THE ULTIMATE Pampering... Tandem Services!

Whether it is a facial and a pedicure, hair color and waxing or lash fill and a manicure - THE BEAUTY BOUTIQUE is your one-stop shopping.

Check out our Spring Combo specials and experience true BEAUTY SLEEP!

Great For Brides... Check out Los Angeles Area

Wedding Happy Hour...
Held once a month at various venues.
The hip and relaxed way to meet vendors and find some last minute needs for your wedding day.

Check it out... tons of fun!

http://vimeo.com/3276587

INFORMATION for MARCH:

POPS Champagne and Dessert Bar

Pasadena

Wednesday March 25, 2009

7:00pm - 9:00pm

$7.00 cover charge

A MUST ATTEND EVENT for all BRIDES - Bring a Friend and Have a Blast!

NEWS for the NEW YEAR - 2009!

Some great ideas to jump start your own beauty for the new year = New YOU!

Lets GO GREEN and get NATURAL!

Great new find: You have heard of REVITALASH... now the new ALL NATURAL Version.
LASH FOOD! I have used it myself and I'm addicted! Give it 3 weeks and you can use this day and night! Your lashes will curl and lengthen.

One piece of DARK cocoa... a day, it's good for YOU!

Try a regular massage - you don't realize how much tension and stress your body holds.

Instead of surgery, try an acupressure & oxygen facial first. The combo of these two treatments leaves your skin toned, tight and glowing. Turns the clock back for a while. With regular treatments, your skin can see a lasting change.

Use a hydrating night treatment for your skin. At night is when your skin regenerates itself so at least moisturize at night. It will keep you looking young.

Replace soda for water and hydrate!!! Your skin will notice the difference.

Try natural nails and a super shine buff instead of polish. Good for your nails and lasts even longer than polish.

Try YOGA... Saturday, January 24th is National Yoga Day. Alot of places are doing free classes - great time to try!

Smile everyday!