Latisse proven to lengthen eyelashes

The only FDA approved eyelash treatment is now available to the public.
Latisse is a new product designed to stimulate growth, thicken and darken your lashes. Patients just apply Latisse to the base of their lashes once a day, and wait for results. According to research, about 78% of patients who used the product say they saw an overall improvement in their eyelashes by 16 weeks.

TyAnn Britton with Tranquility Med Spa, MO. said that most people, 18 years and older are candidates for the product.

But she cautions that this just isn’t something you can pick up off the shelf.

“It is a known Glaucoma drug, and that’s how they discovered it. People were having all these lashes grow when they used it. So that’s why you need to be educated on it when you come in,” Britton said.

Some side effects reported itchy eyes, irritation, dry eye, or skin hyper-pigmentation. But research shows those effects took place in less than 4% of patients.

Britton says people interested in Latisse should have a consultation and talk to your doctor first.

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Top Ten Eyelash Enhancement Tips

Beauty Tip, Med Spa, Medical Spa, Medical Spas Great Lashes, Latisse, Long Lashes, Longer Lashes

Keeping skin soft and smooth in the winter can be a challenge. The key is to pick the right moisturizer. Justine Monteiro, a medical aesthetician at Vinette Day Spa & Apothecary in Scituate, said that not only moisturizing, but exfoliating, is crucial.

“I think people who have sensitive skin and rosacea are really afraid to exfoliate,” she said. “You would be really surprised what retinol a couple times a week can do.”

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that helps to turn over dead skin cells. It can also be used to prevent acne and signs of aging. She suggests trying over-the-counter exfoliants like Dermalogica’s Gentle Cream Exfoliant. “That may be where you want to spend your money, is a good exfoliant,” she said.

For a moisturizer, Monteiro suggests anything that contains vitamin B5 or hyaluronic acid, which binds moisture to the skin, and that won’t clog pores. Ann Purcell, a massage therapist and aesthetician at Adamo Day Spa Retreat in Cohasset, prefers all-natural moisturizers. She suggests anything with vitamins A, C and E, coenzyme Q10, or evening primrose oil.

Purcell said that it’s also important to avoid products that contain toxic chemicals. “If it doesn’t look like something that’s in your food and has a big long name that you can’t pronounce, you probably don’t want it on your skin,” she said.

Many moisturizers contain mineral oil, which she said is deeply dehydrating because it interferes with the skin’s natural lubricant.

Monteiro said vitamin C “is the No. 1 thing you can do for your skin. It’s like squeezing a lemon onto peeled fruit.” She said that vitamin C protects skin and lightens pigment, and though it can be expensive, it’s worth it for the benefit to your skin. Purcell prefers Ester-C, a patented form of vitamin C that she said retains its potency longer.

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Beauty Tip, Day Spa, Facial Peels, Facials Dermalogica, Skinceuticals

Winter remedies: Foods that make you HOT…

Cold foggy mornings, glistening dew on velvety leaves, sky arrayed with feathery clouds and the feeble yellow disc called sun trying vainly to warm the chilly air- are not the only amazing things about winters. Its beauty also lies in the bounty it offers in shape of abundance in nature. From fruits to flowers, winter in tropics is all about colour and diversity.

From dahlia, chrysanthemums and pansies to tomato, lettuce and carrots- the list is unlimited.

In nature nothing exists without a reason. If the word laziness is writ large on the season it is because we are expected to conserve our energies like animals do. And if the bounties offered are huge it is because we eat healthily to guard our systems against the ravages of cold.

Our bodies consume a certain amount of energy to digest food (this is the principle on which zero calorie diet is based as the calories in such a diet is less than the what is required to digest them). In winters heat loss is rapid and hence the energy requirement of the body is more. This is the reason why many animals hibernate in winter when food is difficult to obtain. Their bodies consume stored fat. But we cannot afford the comfort of sleeping through the winter and hence we need special foods for fortification against cold and related illness.

So what do we eat to feel hot and cosy from within? The key lies in the season itself:

Honey: Honey is considered a warm food. That is why its excessive intake in summer is forbidden. It is a must ingredient in Ayurvedic medicines for cough and cold. It contains small quantities of antigens found in flowers and helps in building up immunity. The good news for diet conscious people is that it is not fattening as it contains invert sugar, which is easy to digest. But if you have honey with milk and almonds, you are sure to add a few pounds.

Honey is an excellent anti bacterial agent, prevents moisture loss and is rich in enzymes. A spoonful of honey with lemon in warm water taken everyday keeps one fit and sheds extra flab. But honey during summers should be taken with caution.

Amla: Amla, in ancient medicinal treatises has been referred to as the “remover of all diseases”. The whole of Ayurveda is filled with praises for Amla. Even in its dry form it is among the richest sources of vitamin C. Amla is good for liver, digestion, skin, hair, and controls acidity, blood sugar and cholesterol. Amla is said to contain the key to youthfulness and it is a panacea for all stomach ailments. It is a major ingredient in Chyawanprash taken during winters. Chutney of fresh amla, powdered amla or or amla cooked in sugar syrup taken everyday during winters improves immunity.  Amla can be found in Planetary Herbals Traditional Avurvedic Purifier, 1000 mg, 180 Tablets (Pack of 2)

Saffron: Cultivated in Kashmir and as expensive as precious metals, Saffron or Kesar has been hailed as the source of beauty and health since times immemorial. When consumed with milk it increases body’s resistance and when mixed with cream and applied on face it makes skin clean, spotless and radiant. In winters it can be boiled with raisins, milk and almonds and taken daily before going to sleep. In this form it acts as a great tonic and induces peaceful sleep.

Himalaya Pure Herbs Ashwagandha, Anti-Stress, 60 Vcaps, 250 mg (Pack of 2): Ashvagandha has a rejuvenating effect on body. It is a stress buster and due to its warm effect its consumption is recommended in winters. A popular ingredient of Ayurvedic tonics, it induces sleep, prevents water retention in body and improves immunity.

Organic India Tusli Tea Organic Sweet Rose 18 ct ( Value Multi-pack of FOUR(4) x 6): Tusli is regarded sacred in Indian treatises not for no reason. The immense merit with which it is associated places it atop among “life foods”. Rich in vitamin A, C, calcium, zinc and iron, Tulsi helps body fight all cold borne diseases like cough, cold, sinusitis, pneumonia and all respiratory disorders. It is also a powerful antiseptic and anti malarial agent. This explains why all old British bungalows have Neem and Tusli growing in abundance.

Taken raw with pepper and honey in empty stomach, it is an excellent remedy for cough and cold. It can also be boiled in water, and with a pinch of cinnamon added, this water can be consumed early in the morning to fight cold and increase body resistance.

Gur or Jaggery: ‘In season foods’ are best for health. Gur or Jaggery a gift of winter is also an excellent remedy against its ills. It is considered a warm food and it can be consumed in a variety of ways. It is healthier than sugar as it contains a number of vitamins and minerals like phosphorous, iron, magnesium and potassium and is a natural cure for cough, cold, migraine, asthma, fatigue and indigestion.

Consuming jaggery in winters helps in generating enough heat in the body, thus keeping you warm inside.

Jaggery is not just healthy but also has its own peculiar taste and can be used in a number of ways as a replacement of refined sugar. A spoonful of it can be mixed in warm milk and taken at night. Taken along with fresh ginger it cures cough.

Ginger: Ginger is considered so warm that many times its use is forbidden in summers or by patients, who are not supposed to eat hot and spicy food. It is one of the most medically blessed spices in the Indian kitchen. It contains antioxidants that help build strong resistance. If taken daily in small quantities, it not only keeps the body warm but also cures ulcers, mild fever, acidity, common cold, cough and aids digestion. A glass of ginger ale can help cure flatulence while a glass of hot Yogi Tea Digest, Organic Ginger, Tea Bags, 16-Count Boxes (Pack of 6) can prevent cold. Ginger grated, deep fried in ghee, mixed with honey or sugar and eaten a tea spoon daily is a sure shot cure for irritating cough.

Mustard: Winter food should be cooked in Pure Mustard Oil 500ml
as it not only improves the metabolism rate, but also has anti bacterial, anti inflammatory and anti septic properties. It is rich in micronutrients like selenium, magnesium, zinc manganese, calcium and Omega 3 and is good for skin and hair.

Mustard oil can be applied all over the body before taking a bath as a cure for dry chapped skin. When suffering from cold it can be heated with crushed garlic and applied on chest and nose.

Garlic: As winter is said to affect the proper functioning of the heart (the reason behind maximum heart attacks in this season), Garlic becomes an essential item to be included in food as it not only controls blood pressure and ensures proper flow of blood, but also keeps the body warm and energetic.

Garlic also contains diallyl sulphides which are good for the blood and circulation, lowering bad cholesterol and boosting the immune system. Garlic thus helps in prevention of common cold and flu throughout the winter and fall seasons. One raw garlic sliver can be consumed everyday to build up long term resistance. Or crushed garlic cooked in ghee and mixed with pepper can be taken to cure common cold.

Pepper: Pepper with its anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties is a must have in winters. Besides keeping the body warm it also cures cold, cough and sinusitis. It has also anti fever properties and a peppery soup is the best remedy for winter fevers. Five peppers consumed every day with five Tusli leaves and a teaspoon of honey cures the toughest of coughs.

Ghee: Taaza Ghee, 8-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6)  It is unfair to associate clarified butter or ghee with ‘bad cholesterol’ only. Something whose consumption has been approved through centuries cannot become poison by a handful of freak researches. No doubt the excessive consumption of ghee can create health problems, but only if the intake is excessive and is coupled with lack of physical exercise.

It is rich with antioxidants and acts as an aid in the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods. It is good for skin and hair and is said to aid in tissue building process. In Ayurvedic medicines, Ghee is an important ingredient. Ghee made from cow’s milk when applied on chest is believed to cure cold. Onions deep fried in ghee and mixed with pepper when taken hot cure cough. A teaspoon of ghee should be included in diet everyday during winters. It is a good cure for dry skin and also helps build resistance.

That food holds key to life is what we all should firmly believe in. If Japanese have the highest longevity, no wonder credit goes to Sushi, if several tribes of central Asia were war like it was because of the type of food that they ate and also because of the absence of its availability! Food is the cause and cure of most diseases. So watch out what you eat this winter!

Ayurveda, Balanced Body, Beauty Tip

Robin recently appeared on several shows where she served up a handful of beauty recipes from her own kitchen!

Robin’s Almond Oatmeal Honey Facial Scrub

If you’re like many women, then you’re constantly striving to look younger, and one place ladies focus their attention is their face. There are many products and procedures to help you rejuvenate your skin, but you can also use ingredients found in your own kitchen to attain a youthful glow. Robin McGraw shared her recipe for a facial scrub that soothes and revitalizes the skin.

Ingredients:
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup almonds
½ cup honey

 Put oatmeal and almonds in the blender and combine. “Make it as fine as you think you want, because you want it dense enough to scrub,” Robin says.

Add honey to the oatmeal almond mixture. Apply to the face and wash off.

If you choose to make it in larger batches, you can keep the extra in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. 

“One thing I love about this is you can do it every day, because it’s all natural, won’t harm your skin and really exfoliates well,” Robin says.

BODY SCRUB
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
½ cup coarse salt
2 tablespoons of avocado oil
¼ cup of your favorite liquid soap
Any ONE of the following:
- Juice from ½ of a grapefruit
- Juice from a lemon
- Grated peel from a lemon or lime
- ½ cup of chopped cranberries
- ¼ cup of rose salt
- 2 tablespoons from of an essential oil – Lavender is my favorite

Mix together in a bowl. When in the shower, rub all over from head to toes. Rinse with cold water – as cold as you can stand it. Use once a week.

EGG WHITE FACIAL
1 egg – white only
Beat until frothy

Rub on face and neck. Allow it to harden and then rinse with cool water. This will make your skin tight.

CORNSTARCH FACIAL
½ cup corn starch
¼ cup water
Mix into a paste.

Moisten face and then apply paste in a circular motion. After face is completely covered, rinse with cool water. This will make your face very soft.

MORNING DRINK
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

This mix is a great way to start the day. It not only cleanses the body, but boosts the metabolism.

Beauty Tip, Robin Mcgraw

Food’s only skin deep

Yolanda Owens stirs a stockpot of a thickening creamy concoction, bubbling over an open flame. She adds freshly squeezed, organic carrot juice. Owens has several recipes in motion: Silver bowls swish with lime juice or churn with oatmeal and brown sugar.

But while her southwest Atlanta kitchen begins to smell like a bakery, her customers don’t bite into these desserts. These sweet mixtures are meant to glide on top of the body. Customers exfoliate with grits, scrub their feet with coffee beans and splash their face with “It’s Like a Salad” face toner.

Owens, a self-proclaimed “skin chef,” joins an emerging group of businesses making fresh and even perishable skin care products. She even sells mini-refrigerators for proper storage of her line of preservative-free skin care made with fruits, vegetables and grains purchased in bulk from the DeKalb Farmer’s Market. Her Iwi Fresh (stands for “it is what it is”) products are sold online and at six metro Atlanta day spas.

The 2-year-old company dips into a $60 billion-per-year cosmetics and skin care industry as it’s undergoing an Earth-friendly makeover.

Last year, Spa Sydell introduced fruit masks that change with the season —- crushed cranberry pomegranate masks in winter, blueberry toppings in springtime and a grapefruit cleanser during the hottest months.

From Body Shop’s seaweed exfoliater to Bath & Body Works’ organic honey and pear body scrub (which has a shelf life of only six to eight months), the skin care industry is increasingly turning to Mother Nature.

The green shift in skin care products is being fueled by growing consumer concerns about chemicals in everything from water bottles to children’s plastic toys to what’s inside that night cream (it’s common for face products to include paraben preservatives and petroleum-based ingredients).

So with Americans opting for BPA-free water bottles, and wooden toys, why not puree an avocado to moisturize your face?

Skin care experts say they understand the appeal of lathering up with fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, but they are not convinced food-based beauty products are necessarily safer, more nourishing or even more gentle on the skin.

“Just because it’s squeezed from a fruit doesn’t mean it’s going to be more benign,” said John Bailey, chief scientist at the Personal Care Products Council. “The acids of citrus fruits can be more irritating. Traditional products have been around for a long time, and they have been shown to work and be safe.”

Dermatologists also raise concerns about the all-natural mixtures not containing SPF, which protects the skin from sun damage.

Additionally, experts warn about using perishable cleansing brews past their expiration dates. Skin products made without preservatives are prone to bacteria growth, the way a piece of bread gets moldy.

So rubbing a freshly made pumpkin scrub on your face after it’s past its prime could cause acne, warns Dr. Amy Kim, a dermatologist at Metropolitan Dermatologic Surgery.

Warnings aside, Jody Artale of Fayetteville finds it refreshing using an edible skin care line without any chemicals, dyes or preservatives. She believes she gets everything she needs from her Iwi Fresh collection, which includes the “14 Carrot Glow,” a tonic made from lettuce, and the “Brown Sugar” body scrub.

“I look and feel great,” Artale said. “And I like knowing what I am putting on my body.”

Melissa Grill Petersen, director of operations at Blue Med Spa in Atlanta, said she loves the idea of green products but believes they don’t always get the job done.

The spa continues to whip up fresh-to-order hair smoothies made with bananas, avocados, cantaloupes and olive oil in its Green People Salon.

But it no longer sends batches home with customers because the smoothies last only one month —- even if refrigerated.

And perhaps the biggest challenge is fighting Mother Nature with her own output.

“There are great things that are naturally based that can help you feel better and make your skin smoother, but is it going to take away lines and wrinkles?” Petersen said. “I can’t say there’s any olive oil or a pear that’s going to do that.”

Back in Owens’ southwest Atlanta kitchen, she’s experimenting with tropical recipes for a spa at Atlantic Station.

She’s draining coconuts and slicing starfish. She jots down ideas on her poster-sized paper on an easel. After spending two years mastering the carrot product, she’s prepared for many trips to the farmer’s market —- and many hours in the kitchen —- to get this Caribbean-inspired line just right.

She hopes to one day open up an organic fruit and vegetable juice bar —- for skin.

Kiwi Skin Firmer

Kiwi contains vitamin C. It improves the overall look of the skin and makes it more elastic. Honey is a natural hydrater and moisturizer.

1 ripe kiwi (peeled) 1 teaspoon of honey

Mix the kiwi in a blender or mash with a fork if it is soft. Strain the excess liquid and add the honey.

Apply the mass on the face and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Source: Iwi Fresh

Banana Face Smoothie (Face Cleanser)

Yogurt and sour cream refresh, moisturize and cleanse the skin, while banana and honey rehydrate it.

1 banana

1 tablespoon sour cream

1 tablespoon plain yogurt

1 teaspoon honey

Mash banana in a bowl. Add sour cream and yogurt and mix to a smooth paste. Drizzle in honey. Blend to smooth texture.

Apply a small amount to a clean face and neck in a upward circular motion. Rinse with warm water

Full Article And Credits

Beach Spas, Beauty Tip, Day Spa, Fruit Spa Treatments

Beauty Secrets From The Kitchen
Recipes For Do-It-Yourself Spa Remedies

Shalini Vadhera, celebrity make-up artist and author of “Passport to Beauty” and Harry Smith whip up beauty remedies.

Celebrity makeup artist Shalini Vadhera shows Harry Smith how to improve your skin complexion and hair with homemade beauty secrets using food.

(CBS) Many people do not understand that the all-natural spa remedies are just that — all natural. In fact, many of the ingredients for spa treatments consist of things you might find in your kitchen: flat beer, fresh lemon juice, or sugar.

You can combine a few of these ingredients and create hair tonic, hand scrub or a facial mask.

Shalini Vadhera, celebrity make-up artist and author of “Passport to Beauty,” says with a few ingredients and 30 minutes you can transform yourself to a spa beautiful customer. And the best part? It will cost you next to nothing.

Anti-Wrinkle & Reviving Face Mask
This is a very simple recipe that will rejuvenate your face and is a great anti-wrinkle remedy. Take two bunches of green, seedless grapes, and crush to a fine pulp. Mix in two tablespoons of flour to finish the paste. Apply to face, and allow to sit on skin for fifteen to twenty minutes. Then wash off with warm water and pat dry

Soften, Brighten Your Hands
This is a great way to exfoliate, condition and nourish your hands, knees an elbows. Juice two fresh lemons and juice combine with 1 cup of granulated sugar. Leave on for 3 to 5 minutes, then rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Strengthen Your Nails
This particular remedy will make your nails stronger than acrylic. Simply mince one tablespoon of fresh garlic and add to your favorite clear nail polish. Allow that bottle to sit for one week and apply as needed.

Add Luster To Hair
If your hair feels flat and dull, coconut oil will take care of you. Simply wash as usual and use coconut oil as a conditioner. Apply as needed, leave on for a couple of minutes and rinse with warm water.

Get Rid of Frizzies
If your hair gets frizzy, this may sound unusual but it works. Simply shampoo as usual and rinse with flat beer. How do you make beer flat? Simply add some salt and allow to sit until it seems to lack the froth.

Prevent Stretchmarks
If you want to prevent stretchmarks, the Indians have a sure fire way. Combine a cup of plain yogurt with a teaspoon of tumeric. Mix well and apply to area for 10 minutes. Skin will look light, clean, shiny and revived. In India, women will apply this mixture before their wedding for extra help glowing on their big day.

Beauty Tip

Finding your true colors
New personalized analysis helps women find their most flattering shades — and shop with confidence Lancaster New Era

She had no idea she looked so fetching in green — or so washed-out in black.

After her personal color analysis at Physicians’ Day Spa, Rodd, of West Lampeter Township, pushed black to the back of her closet and tried on some green turtlenecks.

“I should not wear black, which I wear all the time, because I travel,” says Rodd, 60, who works for a medical-device company.

“I can wear any shade of the rainbow in green. … I never would have picked that out on my own.”

Michelle C. Phillips, a licensed esthetician at the spa, 2110 Harrisburg Pike, identifies women’s best colors, simplifying the quest for flattering clothing, makeup and accessories.

Color, Phillips says, affects a woman’s mood and how others see her. The right colors enhance beauty, while the wrong ones highlight flaws.

“If you don’t know what your (best) colors are, you’re not going to be doing yourself any favors,” Phillips says.

The right colors can trim 10 years off a woman’s age, bringing out her eyes and even making her teeth look whiter, Phillips says. Related Topics
Your Life (678) healthy (259) Family Eye Group (6)

But wearing the wrong hues calls attention to wrinkles, age spots, blemishes and dark under-eye circles.

Gail Trendler, public relations director for Family Eye Group, which includes the spa, found an even greater motivation to stick with her best colors.

“When I have the right colors on,” she says, “people often ask me if I lost weight.”

***

Phillips studied a newer personal color analysis approach based on the Munsell Color System, a favorite of artists.

Older color-analysis systems might categorize women as “warm” (spring, summer) or “cool” (fall or winter).

The approach Phillips uses accounts for an often-overlooked category: neutral, which she says more appropriately describes most women.

“Two-thirds of people who got color-analyzed (in the past) weren’t happy or didn’t feel comfortable in those colors,” she says.

The new system has 12 categories, promising more precise, individualized results, she says.

Using a full-spectrum light and brown, gold, silver and black scarves, Phillips first determines a client’s “season.” A woman who looks best in gold, for example, would be a spring.

Then, using more scarves in different colors, Phillips narrows the season to a subcategory, such as true, dark, light, soft or bright.

Body components like hemoglobin, keratin and melanin combine to create a woman’s unique personal coloring, Phillips says. Best colors do not change with age.

East Hempfield Township resident Carole Campbell, who has light blonde hair, hazel eyes and a medium skin tone, learned that she looks best in bright jewel tones, like turquoise and true red.

“I love earth tones, but I’m a true winter,” says Campbell, 67. “We look like old potatoes in earth tones.

” … I think (color analysis) can really get people on the right track to looking their very best.”

***

Phillips, who also offers makeup lessons, skin care and eyebrow design, added personal color analysis to her services in September.

Analyses can take place at private consultations or group parties. The parties, where Phillips identifies five to seven women’s best colors, are held at the spa or clients’ homes.

For an additional fee, Phillips offers a pocket-sized personalized color palette for shopping trips.

Deb Patton, of Manheim Township, is ridding her wardrobe of unflattering colors — and raking in compliments for wearing the right ones.

Patton, 51, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed soft summer, won’t go shopping without her color palette of raspberry, plum and dark green.

“(They were colors) that I just wouldn’t have thought of,” she says. “I love red, which isn’t even in the palette, so I had to give that up.”

Rodd, a true spring with fair skin, reddish-blonde hair and green eyes, now takes a more flattering approach to wearing black by layering colorful scarves close to her face.

It turns out she looks great in brown.

Luckily for her, it’s the new black.

——————————————————————————–
FOR DETAILS

Physicians’ Day Spa licensed esthetician Michelle C. Phillips offers color-analysis parties at the spa, 2110 Harrisburg Pike, or in clients’ homes.

Parties, which last about 90 minutes, can accommodate five to seven women. Cost is $20 per person.

Private color consultations are also available.

For details, call 581-0896.

Full Article and Details

Beauty Tip, Color Therapy

 

Pros offer help for growing real nails

Evelinda: A few weeks ago, we uncovered a trend in nail care: women removing nail enhancements and going with their natural nails. This week we spoke with nail experts to find out their secrets for growing out healthy, strong nails.

Professional tips

* Leigh Ann Post, owner of Leigh Ann’s Color Studio and Day Spa (303-794-5060), cooks up a home-grown baked tomato and olive oil concoction that she swears rebuilds the protein in hair and nails and makes skin healthier. Make your own elixir at home, drink every other day and take a multivitamin. Leigh Ann’s manicurist, Jana Deatherage, recommends also using OPI Nail Envy, a topical nail strengthener ($16.)

* Zenails owner Dina Bautista (303-202-6500) suggests to clients that they take multivitamins and amino acids, like garlic, to strengthen and improve nails. Garlic is key to her rapid nail-growth plan. Ready? Before going to bed, dig your nails into peeled garlic cloves and cover with gloves. Bautista also recommends the base coat Qtica natural nail-growth stimulator ($20).

* Coldwater Creek Spa (303-975-8736) director Karla Okala says the going-natural trend has picked up possibly due to the faltering economy and the fact that artificial nails don’t hold up well in Colorado’s dry climate. Mary Cook, the lead nail therapist at the spa, described the series of manicures they offer for the new nails. The “Grow Your Own” series of treatments starts off with the Ultimate Manicure: Hands are dipped in hot paraffin to hydrate the skin and nail bed. Then shea butter is massaged in for further hydration. Clients follow up with four more manicures every two weeks. Cook recommends using Creative Nail Design’s Toughen Up Base coat ($7) and ridge filler ($7) to strengthen and smooth damaged nails.

* Stephanie Alley, nail technician at Pura Vida Nectar Spa (303-536- 5653), recommends using strengthener three times a week. She likes Nailtek products (nailtek.com) and the SpaRituals line of organic protein extracts and nonchemical strengtheners ($7-$10).

Judie: Nail technicians at Leigh Ann’s Color Studio and Day Spa no longer do acrylics because of what they consider to be harmful toxins in the products as well as the damage these products can cause to the environment when disposed of.

Full Article and Credits

Beauty Tip, Nail Treatments

How to get perma-tan perfection

Keep your summer glow for longer with our body buffing tips.
When summer is drawing to a close, post-holiday blues aren’t the only downside for sunseekers. Once the sunshine starts fading, your healthy golden glow may be fast disappearing along with your carefree smile.

Those hours invested in slapping on the SPF and basking in the rays may have given you an enviable colour, but like your holiday, it doesn’t last forever.

“The length of time a tan will last is generally dependant on age and how you look after your skin,” says Caroline Young, director of training at St Tropez.

“On normal skin a natural tan will last Read more…

Beauty Tip, Spa Treatments, Tanning