A Girl's Beauty Best Friend
Marilyn Monroe is attributed to saying, “Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” With all due respect to the cultural icon, flawless, radiant skin is beautiful too, and it can be achieved with Champneys, a new bath and body spa collection that will have you feeling like a bombshell in no time! The super-affordable products range from $7.99 to $12.99 and are available at Target and Target.com.
Champneys Skin Comforting Bath Milk $8.99
Champneys Spa Indulgence Oriental Opulence Gift Set $9.99
Champneys Foot Butter $8.99
Champneys Mediterranean Bliss Body Glow $11.99
Champneys Citrus Blush Dry Body Oil $7.99
Stages of Beauty
While most anti-aging products are focused on reducing the basic, visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, Stages of Beauty takes into account the rate at which our bodies' biological and hormonal changes occur and their impact on our skins' characteristics over time. With age, our skin experiences decreased collage and elastic, decreased immunity and slowed skin cell regeneration. Because these changes are inevitable, Stages of Beauty's products are scientifically formulated to work best for the age ranges they are intended for; each one includes ingredients that are appropriate and safe for the skin's pH levels, thickness, and sensitivity.
Stages of Beauty Offers Four Different Age Specific Lines:
The Radiance line (20s) focuses on preventative care, repairing and protecting skin against environmental damage and free radicals.
The Harmony line (30s) puts an additional focus on promoting the skin's natural ability to exfoliate and regenerate new skin cells while supporting collagen and elastic.
The Elegance line (40s) puts an additional focus on regaining the skin's elasticity, firmness, and tone.
The Grace line (50s) puts an additional focus on hydration, restoration of the skin's surface immunity, and balancing the effect of hormones on the skin.
Using a serum such as the Radiance Antioxidant Serum with Red Tea ($74.99), is crucial for someone in their 20s, a time when you start noticing the slight signs of aging. It has a high concentration of antioxidants - 50 times greater than that of Green Tea. I used this serum religiously, day and night, by applying only a few drops. It did wonders for my skin, giving it a radiant and healthy glow. However, it made my skin feel a little tight and dry, so I had to immediately follow up with a moisturizer to make it feel supple. My supply has depleted since then, but I'd most definitely reconsider using it again in the future. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it if signs of aging are a concern.
Proven Natural Ingredients
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid is found naturally within the deeper layers of our skin and plays a critical role in moisture retention, and rapidly repairing skin damage. As we age, HA decreases leading to thinner skin. Due to its remarkable ability to hold water, applying HA topically has been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by smoothing and plumping the skin.
Red Tea Extract
Found in the mountains of South Africa, Red Tea Extract is known to contain Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD), which is among the most powerful antioxidants available. It has been shown to function as both an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in the body, neutralizing the free radicals that can lead to wrinkles and prematurely aged skin.
Sea Botanicals
Sea botanicals that provide protection against free radicals while calming and soothing the skin. It also helps to reduce oxidative skin stressor molecules. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are essential to maintaining youthful skin. It has been proven to slow the aging process and protect the skin from environmental and free radical damage. It is essential in revitalizing, repairing, and moisturizing the skin.
Disclosure: The product(s) in this review was provided to the reviewer for keeps and the purpose of writing a review. This in no way affects the quality of the review provided. No monetary exchange occurred in exchange for the writing of the review. The views expressed in this review are strictly that of the reviewer. All reviews provided here are the work of the reviewer and remain completely unbiased.
Think Like a Pro: Save Money at the Salon - Tips from Celebrity Hairstylist
When attempting to save money, it’s no secret that many women trim their budgets by changing their beauty regimens, particularly in terms of hair care. How can women achieve the chic and trendy styles they desire without breaking the bank? The answer is by knowing what the hairstylists know. Gocha Hawkins, founder of Gocha Salon and celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist shares her tips for saving money at the salon.
According to Gocha, saving money on a haircut is, sometimes, as easy as asking the right questions. “There are many tips and tricks that salons don’t always share with their customers, but they should,” says Gocha. “It’s worth asking whether or not your salon hosts training nights or offers loyalty programs; you’d be surprised how many do and don’t advertise it to everyone who walks through the door.”
· Get haircut on a salon’s training night. Search out local salons that offer discount days or training nights, where experienced stylists oversee stylists-in-training so there is no risk of a bad cut.
· Have bangs cut for free. Most stylists will trim bangs between cuts for free, which ensures a more lasting style.
· Skip the blow-dry. If it’s just the standard trim, leaving with wet hair can save up to 40% off the bill.
· Ask about loyalty programs. Many salons and spas offer loyalty programs, so be sure to ask and sign up; some offer special deals for certain times of the year or credit where one can eventually receive a free haircut.
With certain products and treatments, women can significantly decrease the amount of trips to the salon over a period of time. As Gocha explains, “It is all about knowing which products work best for your hair, which can be a bit of a trial and error process, but it’s worth it.”
· Retain hair color. Use specially designed shampoos, conditioners and styling products at home to extend the life of hair color. Gocha’s favorite is Rene Furterer Okara Shampoo & Restructuring and Protective Mask.
· Deep conditioning treatments for hair health. Deep condition hair once a week to stop breakage for a longer period of time, preventing the inevitable visit for a trim to eliminate split ends. Gocha recommends Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment ($25.99 at Amazon.com).
While there are definitely areas where we can save on our beauty routines, we can’t cut back on everything. As Gocha points out, “I like to remind women that purchasing beauty products or tools is like an investment. As long as you know what’s worth a little bit more of a splurge, you can keep your budget under control without allowing your beauty regimen to suffer.”
· Save on the cut, splurge on the color. Get cuts done at a discount salon and spend more on color by a high-end stylist.
· Save on shampoos and conditioners, splurge on tools. Find a blow dryer that doesn’t completely dry out hair, like the T3 Evolution Tourmaline Blow Dryer ($99.95 at Amazon.com). Follow this rule for flat irons: the higher the quality, the less damage to hair; Gocha suggests the Farouk CHI. Also, cheap hair brushes can cause breakage. Find one that works for you, like the Mason Pearson Brush ($55 - $280 at Beauty.com), which will last a lifetime.
· Save on styling products, splurge on masques for healthy hair. Hydrating hair between visits to the salon can only extend the health and life of a cut or color. Try Oribe - Signature Moisture Masque ($58 at Amazon.com).
Maximize Your Haircut
According to Gocha, saving money on a haircut is, sometimes, as easy as asking the right questions. “There are many tips and tricks that salons don’t always share with their customers, but they should,” says Gocha. “It’s worth asking whether or not your salon hosts training nights or offers loyalty programs; you’d be surprised how many do and don’t advertise it to everyone who walks through the door.”
· Get haircut on a salon’s training night. Search out local salons that offer discount days or training nights, where experienced stylists oversee stylists-in-training so there is no risk of a bad cut.
· Have bangs cut for free. Most stylists will trim bangs between cuts for free, which ensures a more lasting style.
· Skip the blow-dry. If it’s just the standard trim, leaving with wet hair can save up to 40% off the bill.
· Ask about loyalty programs. Many salons and spas offer loyalty programs, so be sure to ask and sign up; some offer special deals for certain times of the year or credit where one can eventually receive a free haircut.
Maintain Your Style for Longer
With certain products and treatments, women can significantly decrease the amount of trips to the salon over a period of time. As Gocha explains, “It is all about knowing which products work best for your hair, which can be a bit of a trial and error process, but it’s worth it.”
· Retain hair color. Use specially designed shampoos, conditioners and styling products at home to extend the life of hair color. Gocha’s favorite is Rene Furterer Okara Shampoo & Restructuring and Protective Mask.
· Deep conditioning treatments for hair health. Deep condition hair once a week to stop breakage for a longer period of time, preventing the inevitable visit for a trim to eliminate split ends. Gocha recommends Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment ($25.99 at Amazon.com).
Splurge vs. Save
While there are definitely areas where we can save on our beauty routines, we can’t cut back on everything. As Gocha points out, “I like to remind women that purchasing beauty products or tools is like an investment. As long as you know what’s worth a little bit more of a splurge, you can keep your budget under control without allowing your beauty regimen to suffer.”
· Save on the cut, splurge on the color. Get cuts done at a discount salon and spend more on color by a high-end stylist.
· Save on shampoos and conditioners, splurge on tools. Find a blow dryer that doesn’t completely dry out hair, like the T3 Evolution Tourmaline Blow Dryer ($99.95 at Amazon.com). Follow this rule for flat irons: the higher the quality, the less damage to hair; Gocha suggests the Farouk CHI. Also, cheap hair brushes can cause breakage. Find one that works for you, like the Mason Pearson Brush ($55 - $280 at Beauty.com), which will last a lifetime.
· Save on styling products, splurge on masques for healthy hair. Hydrating hair between visits to the salon can only extend the health and life of a cut or color. Try Oribe - Signature Moisture Masque ($58 at Amazon.com).
Five Steps to Flawless Hair
As women, we are always searching for new and interesting products to give us flawlessly, luscious locks. While there are certainly treatments and tools that can aid us in unlocking the secret to perfect hair, it’s important to have the basics down. Here, Gocha Hawkins, celebrity hairstylist, and owner of Gocha Salon, shares her top five tips for getting the look you want, and keeping hair healthy at the same time.
As Gocha puts it, “A good cut means that even when hair dries naturally, and despite all of the environmental factors, your hair will always look presentable. However, a lot of women forget that regular trims are needed to maintain the desired style. Professionals recommend trims every 6-8 weeks for a reason; when ends become split, it hinders hair health and creates frizz.”
Gocha explains, “Using a humidity blocker like Alterna’s Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Spray ($18) can go a long way to preventing issues due to heat in the warmer months. But it’s also important to use the product every time you style in order to create a buffer zone between hair and the extreme heat of your tool of choice, whether it is a blow drier, straightener or curling iron. Watch which product your hairstylist uses prior to blow-drying, and pick it up from your salon.”
“It’s important to know your hair’s texture and to consider whether or not you’ve had color treatments or other recent stresses that can damage your ‘do. Talk to your hairstylist about which products he or she would recommend. In addition, using too much shampoo and conditioner can dull hair; use a drop the size of a quarter. Over-doing it on conditioner and shampoo leaves hair greasy and limp,” says Gocha.
As Gocha articulates, “If there is one thing I tell all of my customers, it’s to make time to deep condition hair. Check with your hair professional to see which particular treatment is right for you and apply it at least every two weeks, though once a week is best. This goes a long way to keep hair healthy and shiny, as well as strong, preventing breakage and allowing you to experience the best hair day possible. One of my favorite deep conditioners is Aveda’s Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment ($22.89 at Amazon.com); this is great for women who flat-iron their hair often.”
“Don’t leave the house without a hair tie or a hair clip if your hair is long. There’s no way to avoid every mishap, and having the option to style differently can be your saving grace on a difficult hair day. The longer your hair, the more likely it is for you to encounter obstacles that damage your look. Another fashion forward option is the headband, which allows you to accessorize in addition to hiding less-than-perfect hair,” explains Gocha.
Gocha says, “Having healthy hair is the key to avoiding a bad hair day. Keep in mind that preventative measures are always preferable over damage control. If you treat your hair well, it will reward you with one great hair day after the next!”
Get a Great Hair Cut
As Gocha puts it, “A good cut means that even when hair dries naturally, and despite all of the environmental factors, your hair will always look presentable. However, a lot of women forget that regular trims are needed to maintain the desired style. Professionals recommend trims every 6-8 weeks for a reason; when ends become split, it hinders hair health and creates frizz.”
Apply Product Prior to Styling
Gocha explains, “Using a humidity blocker like Alterna’s Bamboo Smooth Anti-Humidity Spray ($18) can go a long way to preventing issues due to heat in the warmer months. But it’s also important to use the product every time you style in order to create a buffer zone between hair and the extreme heat of your tool of choice, whether it is a blow drier, straightener or curling iron. Watch which product your hairstylist uses prior to blow-drying, and pick it up from your salon.”
Use the Right Shampoo & Conditioner for You
“It’s important to know your hair’s texture and to consider whether or not you’ve had color treatments or other recent stresses that can damage your ‘do. Talk to your hairstylist about which products he or she would recommend. In addition, using too much shampoo and conditioner can dull hair; use a drop the size of a quarter. Over-doing it on conditioner and shampoo leaves hair greasy and limp,” says Gocha.
Make Time to Pamper Your Hair
As Gocha articulates, “If there is one thing I tell all of my customers, it’s to make time to deep condition hair. Check with your hair professional to see which particular treatment is right for you and apply it at least every two weeks, though once a week is best. This goes a long way to keep hair healthy and shiny, as well as strong, preventing breakage and allowing you to experience the best hair day possible. One of my favorite deep conditioners is Aveda’s Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment ($22.89 at Amazon.com); this is great for women who flat-iron their hair often.”
Be Prepared
“Don’t leave the house without a hair tie or a hair clip if your hair is long. There’s no way to avoid every mishap, and having the option to style differently can be your saving grace on a difficult hair day. The longer your hair, the more likely it is for you to encounter obstacles that damage your look. Another fashion forward option is the headband, which allows you to accessorize in addition to hiding less-than-perfect hair,” explains Gocha.
Gocha says, “Having healthy hair is the key to avoiding a bad hair day. Keep in mind that preventative measures are always preferable over damage control. If you treat your hair well, it will reward you with one great hair day after the next!”