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Love your skin
Dr. Ted Lain is offering special Valentine’s Day packages for those looking to add a little extra to their look.
The Love Your Face package (valued at $900) offers one area of Botox, one area of Juvederm and one treatment of microdermabrasion for $695.
Another special Dr. Lain is offering is a free Juvederm with booking of a LuxLift treatment. The Luxlift treatment involves the use of three separate lasers, each targeting one of the three layers of skin: the LuxG laser (for the top layer of skin to minimize brown spots and broken capillaries and evens out skin tone), the Lux1540 laser (for the skin’s second layer which decreases fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars) and the DeepIR laser for the deepest layer to tighten and lift the skin - perfect for cheek sagging, jowls and the neck “waddle.”
Specials must be booked with a deposit during the month of February.
If you want clear skin without the cost, Dr. Lain also offers some DIY tips at home:
Tips for acne
Wash with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide cleanser.
You can use daily or weekly “peel pads” which have higher concentration of the acids to help with exfoliation.
Do not pick at acne, as this can cause scarring and more infection.
Consider a sulfur-based mask or OTC cream since these have good antibacterial effects.
If skin is not too irritated from the cleanser or pads, try nighttime products with Retinol.
To reduce brown spots
Sunscreen and a hat are mandatory since any sunlight hitting the brown spots will make them darker.
Apply products with Retinol and Vitamin C, as these will work together to lighten the spots and help with wrinkles.
The best brightening agents will have Hydroquinone (2 percent is available over the counter). Apply this cream to the brown spot twice daily.
For more information or to book an appointment, call Steiner Ranch Dermatology at 623-7067 or visit www.steinerranchdermatology.com.
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Treat your sweetie (and maybe yourself, too) to a day at the spa
Valentine’s Day is slowly approaching. It’s a day we either love … or love to hate.
For those of you looking for the perfect gift for yourself (or your beau), Spa Reveil, located in the Domain, is offering two Valentine’s Day specials.
The Valentine’s Bliss package ($195) offers a full-body Swedish massage, Pure Results facial, spa pedicure and tea service.
For those looking for a retreat together, the Couples Escape ($190/person) includes a couples hydrotub, Swedish massage, Pure Results facial and tea service.
These specials are available through Feb. 28.
Spa Reveil is truly an escape from everyday stresses. Nestled on the second floor, the spa is serene and tranquil. I rushed over after work to give it a try. I’ve driven by numerous times on my way to shop or eat and always wondered how relaxing it would be in such a busy area. I was pleasantly surprised.
I walked up the stairs and entered through the glass doors. Aromatherapy filled my nose as I was greeted by their friendly staff. I was taken to the women’s locker room, where I received my own locker, slippers and robe. Then I was offered tea as I relaxed and waited for my massage therapist, Melissa Mizner.
She greeted me and took me back for my little escape from a busy Monday. I was given the option of which oils she would use — lavender for relaxation, Arnica as an anti-inflammatory, or lemongrass as a detoxifier. Lemongrass it was. Then I laid down on a heated table that made me feel like I was melting.
Mizner started with a foot massage and worked her way to my scalp and face. She did not miss a muscle — everything from my pinky toe to my collarbone. I’ve had many massages before, but Mizner was much more in tune with my body and was able to really work out every stress knot that had built up. Her gentle-yet-firm pressure was calming as I drifted away.
I could tell she really enjoyed her work by the way she took her time to on each muscle. She ended by wrapping my feet in warm towels, which slowly brought me back to reality. I felt like jelly as I walked to the locker room and took my time getting back into my jeans and T-shirt. I thought twice about stepping into the steam room, but I had too much to do — back to everyday stresses!
Spa Reveil was immaculate, relaxing and very impressive — a treatment there would be a great gift for anyone looking to unwind. They also offer exotic Moroccan baths, hydrotherapy, PCA facials, waxing and more. For a full list of their offerings, visit www.spareveil.com or call 339-7000.
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Forbes brings celebrity style to Austin, TV show
If you’re looking for a new ‘do, then consider spending time with celebrity hairstylist Giacomo Forbes.
After all, Forbes has styled the tresses of Sandra Bullock, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claudia Schiffer and others.
And don’t forget to dish with him about his big TV moment. Forbes, who moved to Bella Salon & Day Spa (1221 W. Sixth St. 474-5999) after closing his studio last year, is a contestant on the third season of the reality hit “Shear Genius.” Set your DVR now.
The show, which was filmed last year, returns to Bravo this month. Forbes is one of 12 contestants who competes for $100,000 in seed money from Nexxus, an apprenticeship with the salon care company and an opportunity to style hair for a feature in Allure magazine.
Camila Alves, girlfriend of sometime-Austinite Matthew McConaughey, is the show’s host, and celebrity hairstylist Jonathan Antin (you might remember him from reality show “Blow Out”) serves as a judge.
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How owner Jennifer Andrews turned spa and gym into an urban oasis
Jennifer Andrews can get a massage anytime she wants. But there’s a downside to being the maven behind Mecca Gym & Spa: She can’t ever say that she doesn’t have time to go to the gym. After all, she’s at the “office” every day.
Andrews came to fitness through a retail background, which trained her in the notion that service and creating something magical for others was a gift to the common good. That said, when she came to Austin and couldn’t find a gym that was the sort she wanted to join, she opened one herself. Later came what she calls “the dangling carrot” - the spa. “It’s the perfect pairing: Go work out; treat yourself to a massage.”
OK, Jennifer — we will.
Glossy: Is the spa dessert for the workout crowd?
Jennifer Andrews: Here’s the thing: I know my client. I am my client. I am not training for the Ironman; I work out because I have to in order to feel good and be healthy. Luxuriating afterward is the ultimate experience - icing on the cake.
Mecca has been described as an urban retreat. How did you achieve this?
We’ve been here for 10 years now, and still when people get off the elevator, we hear them give a sort of sigh of relief. Here we are amid so much downtown chaos, and yet we’ve created more than a gym: It’s an escape — albeit for a moment — from the harried pace of the world. We’ve made a pretty place and cultivated a community of clients. Our personal service combined with the atmosphere encourages people to hang out.
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Color your kisser with a name that matches your mood
Shopping for a special-occasion lipstick is sometimes less about the color and more about the lip lingo. Finding a moniker to suit your mood can make all the difference in what ends up in your makeup bag. This Valentine’s Day, select a stick that will send the message you want to convey. Consider our list of aptly named, pucker-perfect choices that speak volumes without you ever having to say a word.
Pair a playful pout with a come-hither glance and take your night from zero to zsa zsa zsu. GloLiquid, high-shine gloss in Flirt. $14.50, Salon by Milk + Honey, 237 W. Third St. 512-236-1112, www.milkandhoneysalon.com.
A shade by any other name could never be as sweet as Rose, two-sided Chanel Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour. $34, Nordstrom, Barton Creek Square mall, 2901 Capital of Texas Highway South. 512-691-3500, www.shop.nordstrom.com.
Turn up the heat with a five-alarm kiss of Red Hot Rebel. This dynamic duo from the Line n’ Shine collection is part swivel-up lip liner and part nonsticky, high-lacquer gloss. $25, Rae Cosmetics. 1206 W. 38th St. 512-320-8732, www.raecosmetics.com.
Love ‘em and leave ‘em with a smooth swipe of Heartbreaker from Senna Cosmetics. Expect opaque coverage and a full, dewy finish. $18, Kiss N’ Makeup, 4402 Burnet Road. www.kissnmakeup.us.
Bare it all with the Nudist No. 3 from W3LL People. Keeps lips as hydrated and as refreshed as a skinny dip. $23, W3LL People. 215 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite B. 512-366-7963, www.w3llpeople.com.
Have dessert first with the organic botanical Luscious Lips Berry Cream Trio from Suki. Taste-test the two scrumptious shades, Wineberry Kiss and Sugarberry Pout, as well as lip repair butter to create a soft, dewy pout. $28, www.futurenatural.com.
Your plus-one will be punch-drunk over Bobbi Brown Rich Color Gloss in Merlot. A triple-threat of lip tricks: Think full-color coverage, a soft glossy shine and the smooth satisfaction of a balm. $20, Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail. 512-231-3700, www.saksfifthavenue.com.
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Couples massage offers a romantic way to relax together
My husband, John, is going to get a couples massage with me, and he’s kicking and screaming all the way to Lakeway.
“It’s going to be romantic,” I growl, “and good for your back. Taking you for a massage is not a hostile act.”
He counters: “I don’t like people fussing over me.” He’s had massages before, long ago, but he considers it the sort of self-indulgent thing that a real man doesn’t do. I inform him he has no vote; he is my Valentine and I’m giving him a spa treatment.
We arrive at Lakeway Resort, and as we walk down the steps to the spa entrance with Lake Travis sparkling beside us, I can tell that John’s feathers are less ruffled. Water has that soothing effect on both of us.
We sign in, get into our fluffy robes in our respective locker rooms and meet up when our respective massage therapists take us to our treatment room, which overlooks the lake. It’s great that the room has a view, even though it’s impossible to see when you’re face-down on a massage table. You know the water’s there; it somehow helps. (In the summer, you can get this massage in a poolside cabana.)
We are each getting a Swedish massage, he from LuAnne Rochester and I from Nathan Davila. They’ve each asked about our problem areas. John has targeted his decades-old back problem; I have whined about my knotty neck and shoulders.
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Want to save on high-end brands? Austin aesthetician has The Skinny
For those beauty buffs who are always on the hunt for deals on luxury labels, www.shoptheskinny.com, co-founded by Austin-based aesthetician Lauren Fornes, is the shortcut solution.
This members-only site sends weekly invitations to subscribers to shop the limited supply of high-end beauty brands such as Perricone MD, Lisa Hoffman Beauty, 100% Pure, International Orange and Organic Apoteke, at up to 75 percent off.
The site also features educational videos on skin care.
After signing up for the free membership and answering questions regarding skin type and health regimen, members also will receive discounts on cosmetic services such as Botox from renowned dermatologists and product recommendations from Fornes.
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Just add water
Keeping your body toxin-free should be a priority, but how to get the proper antioxidants is a mystery.
During your next salon appointment at the Salon at Saks Fifth Avenue, treat yourself to a healthy dose of 100 percent natural, high-antioxidant extracts from Pure Inventions.
When added to water, this alternative line of liquid supplements provides a quick fix of antioxidant hydration for a healthy high. Featured extracts include delicious flavors such as green tea, pomegranate with acai berry and mint cocoa, which are free of caffeine, sugar, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and gluten.
Available at the Salon at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9722 Great Hills Trail. 231-3725.
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A golden reflection
Experience the joys of health, wealth and happiness with a 24-Karat Gold Facial from Spa Reveil.
This lavish treatment is a tribute to the healing properties of gold, which is said to prevent signs of premature aging, regenerate healthy cells and bring a renewed radiance to the skin.
The pampered spa patron will enjoy a full 80 minutes of luxury, which includes a 60-minute 24-Karat gold cleansing and extraction treatment, followed by a goji raspberry green tea service in the Sanctuary Lounge.
$150, Spa Reveil at the Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 140. 339-7000.
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Heals as it conceals
A good cover-up job requires the help of a flawless accomplice.
Consider the Narcissist Supernatural Foundation and Concealer Stick your partner in crime.
This new creation from local organic makeup line W3LL People provides a smooth finish that allows your skin to breathe easy without the smother effect so often found in concealers.
In addition to having an SPF10 and oil-absorbing silica to control shine and promote balance, this organic product contains an all-natural ingredient base of organic green tea, reishi mushroom and pomegranate to nourish and rejuvenate the skin during each wear.
$38, W3LL People, 215 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite B. 366-7963.
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Holiday scent lingers around this spa treatment
Holidays are hard on feet. We’re always on the move — meandering through miles of malls, standing for hours at holiday parties, mashing the gas pedal to loved ones’ homes.
The Peppermint Deluxe Luxury Foot Renewal treatment at Barton Creek Spa sounded like the perfect way to soothe my aching feet. The moment therapist Kimberley Rhoden placed my poor, unfortunate soles into a basin of warm water sudsed up with water cranberry shower gel and peppermint oil, I knew I’d made the right call.
A light peppermint scent wafted up. Something about it was trying to call up a childhood memory, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.
The peppermint pampering continued with a peppermint, lavender and sea salt scrub, exfoliating what I can only describe as hooves.
My soothed feet were then painted with a lactic acid peel containing pomegranate extract. After three minutes, Rhoden swathed my feet in deliciously hot towels, then used them to remove the mask. My feet felt downright silky.
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Ease into winter with a portable hot tub built for two
Transition from swimming pool season to hot tub time with the SpaBerry, a portable, two-seater home spa.
Requiring minimal effort and upkeep, the fully insulated SpaÂÂBerry need only be plugged into a standard outlet and filled with a garden hose. This fun backyard accessory is available in eye-catching hues like StrawBerry, BlueBerry, SlateBerry, SnowBerry and CanaryBerry, and comes complete with massage jets, a waterfall, molded drink holders, a lockable cover and eco-friendly elements like color LED lighting and a biodegradable water cleaning system.
Prices start at $4,999. Available locally at A-Tex Family Fun Center, 8700 Burnet Road. 451-8353.
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Chapped lips don’t have to be a rite of winter
Screen-siren red lips might be the rage in Hollywood, but, for most of us, red lips are far less glamorous: They’re a sign that they’re chapped.
Lips are susceptible to dryness — the root cause of the burning, cracking and flaking — because the skin is thin and they lack oil glands and natural moisture. Chapping can happen any time of year, although lips are particularly susceptible in the winter when there is little humidity in the air.
The best way to prevent it is to keep lips protected and moisturized all the time, says Dr. Charles Zugerman, associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “The key to keeping lips healthy and moist is simple — you have to care for them every day. A layer of lip balm applied every morning and again when it’s needed throughout the day will help form a protective layer between lips and the elements.”
Lip balm has become a big beauty category, and the choices in stores range from waxy sticks to gooey gels. The right one depends on personal preference and condition. A gel tends to be soothing and moisturizing while giving the appearance of dewiness, with little or no color, explains Chase Aston, international makeup artist for the Body Shop. Wax-based products provide more of a protective shield, and cream-based formulas tend to be thicker and heavily nourishing, he says.
The richest, creamiest options are often called “butters,” Aston says.
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Viva Day Spa special caters to cluttered and cloudy heads
I had a head full of mold.
I’m typically not a headachy person, but the longer I live in Austin, the more the unrelenting mold seems to interfere with my brain. (If Austin is indeed weird, I’m certain this is why.) Sometimes, my sinuses get so inflamed that my whole head throbs. This was one of those days.
So I booked the Head Trip spa package at Viva Day Spa. Viva co-owner Shannon Mouser invented this package specifically to deal with her migraines. It’s an intensive massage of the head, neck and shoulders, and it works on pretty much any kind of ache in those areas. Therapist Diane Pellegrini started by massaging my face, with no lotion or oil — just with her cool, smooth hands. She worked her way over my eyebrows, forehead and sinuses, focusing on pressure points in the sinuses. It was a relaxing way to get into the treatment and helped me immediately breathe a little more easily.
Then, using a mint-scented oil, she went to work on my head and neck. She kneaded, rubbed and at one point scrubbed in a hair-washing motion, reaching every inch of my head, from the bulges at the back of my head next to my neck, where most of my headaches tend to settle in, all the way up to Mount Suitcase, the big lump at the top of my head where a metal case fell out of an airplane’s overhead compartment and onto my cranium 15 years ago.
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Clinique, Teen Vogue hold beauty event for fresh faces
Get ready to strike a pose.
Students who are at least 13 will get their chance during Clinique’s Fresh Faces Tour, a style effort with Conde Nast’s Teen Vogue.
There will be a mobile beauty studio at 2209 Rio Grande St. near the University of Texas from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Friday.
The magazine’s beauty and health director, Eva Chen, will take questions from the crowd and offer news on fall makeup trends.
Students will get a complimentary makeover, professional photo and a chance to win a prize, including a trip to New York to visit Teen Vogue’s office as well as Clinique’s headquarters, a professional photo shoot that will be featured in the magazine, a year’s supply of Clinique products and a Teen Vogue makeover.
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International Spa Association meets in Austin
When the going gets tough, the tough get a massage.
As other businesses founder in the recession, the spa industry is thriving, earning $12.8 billion nationwide in 2008 compared with $10.9 billion in 2007, according to the International Spa Association.
Against this cheerful financial backdrop, about 1,500 members of that association are convening serenely at the Austin Convention Center this week, hearing seminars on topics such as social media marketing and checking out new products for rubbing out anxiety.
“I think more people feel like spending $100 on a massage than going out to dinner,” said Shana Ominsky, spa director for Austin’s Barton Creek Resort and Spa, who was at the convention with four colleagues.
Massage is the most popular spa treatment, according to a survey commissioned by the spa association. That poll also reported that the No. 1 reason people go to a spa is to relieve stress.
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A warm fuzzy after bath time
What could possibly be more luxurious than a long, relaxing bath?
How about a warm towel to cuddle up in as you step out of the tub?
Heat things up with a new towel warmer from the 200 Series Collection from Mr. Steam.
The perfect upgrade to any bathroom, this relaxation innovative has built-in temperature and high limit controls for precise heating so you can control the warmth, and comes complete with an aromatherapy oil well which releases fatigue and anxiety reducing scents.
The collection of warmers, which come in multiple heights and finishes, are also available with a 24-hour, seven-day digital timer that can be programmed in advance.
Prices range from $400-$800. Available at Moore Supply Co., 8740 Shoal Creek Blvd.
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Give your tired skin an eco-friendly glow
Dip into the eco-friendly fountain of youth and be in the know on the latest in luxury, organic beauty products thanks to Futurenatural, a locally based, online beauty boutique touting more than 40 brands of the best organic and natural brands in the world.
From organic anti-aging moisturizers to makeup made from all natural ingredients, the products represented are a finely edited array of the highest quality, natural beauty products in the market.
Shop by brand to uncover the story behind each line, or by skin type to find the best treatments and elixirs specific to the skin you’re in.
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Relaxing at the human carwash feels delicious
All I could think of was: This must be how a car feels in a carwash. And if that’s the case, the car feels pretty good.
I was experiencing the Moroccan Bath Tradition treatment at Spa Reveil at the Domain. It’s one of the spa’s signature treatments, and it’s a blissful 80 minutes of scrubbing, rinsing and soothing.
I began my afternoon at Reveil with an express facial from Jaclyn Losie, who cleaned my face with a tea tree oil cleanser, then applied carrot seed and gardenia serums before adding a seaweed mask.
She massaged my face with a creamy moisturizer, aware that I was headed into a body treatment that would give it time to work on my summer-dried face.
With my face slathered, I was handed off to Susan Deibert for my Moroccan bath treatment.
The primary component of this treatment is the Vichy shower, a rinse provided by an arm equipped with shower heads that is passed over the massage table. The device got its start long ago in the hot springs of Vichy, France. I’ve had scrubs rinsed off in various ways, and the Vichy shower seems the most expeditious — assuming you’re in a room with a drain. And we were.
Before we started, Deibert tested the water temperature on my feet. It was quite warm, but not hot.
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Appreciation for BeverlyD
Girls, do you remember being 8 years old and having slumber parties? Putting on your robes and playing with each other’s hair and makeup, while gossiping about the cute boy next door? There was camaraderie between you and the girls. Girls ruled … and boys drooled.
BeverlyD brings back these times with her hair parties for women. With the launch of her 100 percent organic, eco-friendly hair and body products, BeverlyD began throwing these parties.
“I want to build women and community. So much of our lives are separate; we get caught up in our own lives, our own little bubbles,” she said. “Hair parties bring women together. When we come together, we talk and connect. A lot of good out comes out of it.”
Women can host these parties or attend one. They come in comfy clothes or robes and bring their own blow dryers, brushes and styling tools. The spa ritual starts with food. They prepare a healthy and organic meal made with local products. Then comes appreciation time, where the women go around and tell what they appreciate in their lives.
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Nourish skin naturally at online shop
We all know ingredients in beauty products are just as important for our bodies as those in food labels, and thanks to Futurenatural, a locally based online beauty boutique touting more than 40 brands of the best organic and natural brands in the world, your skin can be nourished, not famished.
A few of the good-enough-to-eat products might have already secured a spot in your daily beauty regimen, but now you can find your faves all in one place.
Owner Emma Pezzack, who has been in the beauty biz for 25 years, has created a marketplace for eco-conscious consumers to shop for quality organic skin products. From scalp treatments to foot cream, you’ll be treated from head to toe.
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Wonder if Viva Spa would donate to the St Francis Gala…? It would be a winner.
... read the full comment by ann | Comment on Viva Day Spa special caters to cluttered and cloudy heads Read Viva Day Spa special caters to cluttered and cloudy heads
Haha, apparently some people forgot about the old “girls rule and boys drool” idiom. I’m pretty sure girls nowadays are still using it… and the boys are still coming up with lame comebacks. Ohhh childhood…
... read the full comment by Laura | Comment on Appreciation for BeverlyD Read Appreciation for BeverlyD
nice article. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did you hear that some chinese hacker had busted twitter yesterday again.
... read the full comment by Diane | Comment on Remember Mother's Day with cosmetics from Sisley, Giorgio Armani and Chanel Read Remember Mother's Day with cosmetics from Sisley, Giorgio Armani and Chanel
Smokey, she wasn’t be literal when she said “girls rule… and boys drooled,” it’s a saying for when you’re the age where you don’t care what boys think—you’re too busy having fun trying new things.
... read the full comment by Leah | Comment on Appreciation for BeverlyD Read Appreciation for BeverlyD
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