Spa Blah Blah Blog

Happy Hair: Salon Deals to De-Stress Your Tresses

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

To keep hair happy and healthy, routine trimmings and touch-ups are the standard spa girl rule of thumb. And girlfriend, there's only so much a home deep conditioning treatment can do. So before your hair goes limp and lifeless, make the time to get your behind to the salon for some professional help. We've dug up 12 color, cut and treatment services that will whip your hair into tip-top shape -- all at places and prices we know you'll love.

20% Off Hair Services at Taglio Salon in Scottsdale (pictured) for new clients. Experience Taglio's innovative color techniques, expert haircuts and ultra-chic interior with 20% off cuts, colors, extensions, conditioning treatments and thermal straightening.

Free Haircut with Color Service at Pucci Salon & Day Spa in Scottsdale. Step inside the ever-abuzz Pucci Salon for a completely free haircut worth $60 when you book a color. While you're there make sure to check out there extensive assortment of the latest hair, jewelry and skincare items.

50% Off Your Entire Bill at Amnity Salon in Gilbert for first time clients. Get a whole new head of hair for half the price at this intimate, private hair studio focused on creating tresses tailored to your personal style.

Free Haircut with a Color Service at Brandon Alexander Salon & Spa in Phoenix for new clients. Located in the hub of Arcadia, Brandon Alexander is the perfect place for a color and style revamp followed by an afternoon of shopping and dining at nearby boutiques and restaurants.

$49 Moroccan Oil Treatment, Cut and Style at Bravo Salon & Day Spa in Scottsdale. Banishes dry, frizzy hair and protects against future sun and styling damage. Works wonders for all types of hair, especially hard to manage curls.

$55 Mini Highlight and Cut with Lauren at Just a Tease Salon in Chandler. Lighten up for summer with a few face-framing pieces of shimmery blond. Deal also includes a split end snip.

Free Haircut with Color at Luminoso Studios in Scottsdale. We've seen some pretty darn good hair come out the doors of Luminoso (they're our office neighbors). Visit their brand new digs and get a free haircut worth $45 when you book a color with one of their Goldwell experts.

20% Off All Hair Services at Mane Attraction in Phoenix for new clients. Includes blow outs, styling, color, retexturizing and repairing treatments. And if you're feeling particularly brave, spring for their expertly applied hair extensions.

Discounted Cut and Color Services with Select Stylists at Sachi Salon & Day Spa in Scottsdale for new clients. Check out Sachi's posh facility with services performed by Redken color experts. Get a free color deal with Elizabeth or discounted services with Polly and Sarah Jane.?

$20 Gift Certificate Salon Estique in Phoenix. $20 is yours to spend at this cozy yet upscale Central Phoenix salon surrounded by a handful of unique home furnishing stores and lunch time hot spots. Choose from a bevy of hair services including haircuts, colors, texturizing treatments, men's grooming and more.

Free Haircut with Color with Jackie or Jeffrey Steven Paul Salon in Scottsdale for new clients. We can't get enough of Steven Paul's cool, eclectic vibe (and iced lattes!). See what we're buzzing about with a free haircut when you book a color or save 25% on any hair service with Cassie.

20% Off Hair Services at Salon Surreal in Phoenix for first time clients. Cut, colors, special event styling, perms and relaxing treatment are yours to try and all priced at a savvy 20% off.

The No Commitment Tan: Wash-Off Bronzers and Body Tints

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Avoid the hassle of self-tanners with wash-off bronzers and body tints, which provide an extra kiss of color without the commitment. Use them to mask imperfections like freckles and bruises, even out skin tone from a self-tanner gone wrong, hide tan lines, illuminate skin for an evening out or add color when you don't have time to apply a self-tanner.

Bronzers for Body

Laura Mercier Body Bronzing Makeup, $38. Scented with the tropical aroma of coconut, this sheer and silky formula hides imperfections while giving your skin a luminous golden bronze color. Get it at Nordstom or lauramercier.com.

Fake Bake Tinted Full Body Glow, $13.95. Mix a squirt of this bronze-hued shimmery lotion into your regular body moisturizer or foundation for a touch of color. Packed with nourishing botanicals, this product gives skin a subtle lavender-scented sheen and can be applied anywhere in need of color. Also great at hiding self-tanning streaks. Get it at select Ulta stores and fakebake.com.

JK Jemma Kidd Show Stopper Year-Round Body Glow, $28. A lightweight body tint from the creator of the Jemma Kidd Make-Up School, this body makeup gives skin a hint of color while the micro-fine pearl in the formulation shimmers in the light. Get it at most Target stores or at jemmakidd.com.

Jemma Cosmetics Cookies & Cream Bronzing Duo, $24.95. Not to be confused with Jemma Kidd, this delectable duo was created by Austrailia's "lip gloss queen" Jemma Gawned. Blend on the copper-hued Cookies to create depth and finish with the dew-enhancing Cream. Or use one or the other alone. Water resistant and can be slathered all over body or used to highlight eyes and lips. Get it at jemmacosmetics.com.

Bikini Kitchen Booty Butter Tanning Lotion, $27.95. Channel your inner Bar Rafaeli (bikini model) by buttering up with this nutty-fragranced body bronzer mixed with your fave sunscreen when lounging by the pool. Gives skin an instant coffee-colored glow and is enriched with nourishing oils and extracts straight from the islands of Hawaii. Get it at bikinikitchen.com.

Diana B. Miracle Tan, $60. A cult favorite among beauty addicts, this foam tanner produces rich, natural color in 1 minute flat by combining DHA with water-activated sugar protein. It makes your skin smell as irresistible as a chocolate bon bon and even though this tan-in-a-can comes with a hefty price tag, keep in mind that one bottle contains about 30 applications. Offers instant color that builds every time you use it. Get it at dianabbeauty.com.

Bronzers for Legs

Michael Kors Leg Shine Classic, $32. This non-greasy stick gives legs a hint of golden shimmer and boost color and luminosity. As an added kick, the stick is scented with the floral notes of Michael to double as a fragrance. Also comes in Shimmer and Bronze shades. Get it at Neiman Marcus stores and neimanmarcus.com.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs Leg Makeup, $13. Sunspots, freckles, veins, shaving nicks and other boo-boos are diminished by this high coverage spray. Available in four shades, the formula airbrushes on as a liquid and dries quickly to a water-resistant, flawless finish. Application can be a little messy but once you get the hang of it, you'll love it. Get it at most drugstores and mass retailers or sallyhansen.com.

MAC Skinsheen Leg Spray, $22.50. Ran out of time to apply your self-tanner? Not a problem! Spray your way to a sleeker looking you with this lightweight, gel-based bronzer. The mousse formulation offers easy to blend, sheer coverage to camouflage problem areas and is available in three shades. Get it at most MAC retailers and maccosmetics.com.

Body Bronzers with SPF

DuWop Revolotion SPF 15, $28. A cult fave, this moisturizing body shimmer not only gives you a kiss of color but protects skin with a dose of SPF. Also comes in a new deeper shade a formulation for the face. Get it at Sephora stores or duwop.com.

Rodial Skinny Beach SPF 15 Tinted, $49. It firms. It tones. It protects. And it gives you a dose of caramel-tinted goodness to boot. Slather it on for your next company picnic and watch them swoon. Get it at blissworld.com.

Bronzers with Extra Shimmer

Sephora Divine Oil, $18. A simply divine concoction of nourishing plant oils tinted with a hint of golden shimmer and scented with exotic botanicals. Get it at Sephora stores or sephora.com.

Nars Body Glow, $59. Blended from rare oils from the South Pacific, this chocolate-hued liquid nourishes and illuminates skin with tiny flecks of gold. Use alone or mix with body lotion for a translucent glow. Get it at NARS retailers or sephora.com.

Tips

Don't forget your neck! Most of us have slightly darker necklines and after using a bronzer on our face, our necks often look pale. Use a body bronzer to even out the color between your face and decolletage.

No time to snag a wash-off bronzing product? In a pinch, dust your facial bronzing powder on shoulders, arms, neck and legs.

Product Review: Aveda Sun Care After-Sun Hair Masque

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Spa-Girl-in-the-Field Carolyn and I have more in common than just our love of all things spa. We both have fried and frazzled hair. It's that whole "natural blond" thing. We have high-maintenance hair. What can we say? So we decided to give the new Aveda Sun Care line a shot. Here's her take on the After-Sun Hair Masque, an intensive botanical treatment for sun-exposed tresses.

Last week I cleaned out my car and all over the back seat I found tiny pieces of mysterious white hair. My dog hasn't gone for a ride since January (she had a full-blown meltdown, which I remember quite vividly) so it took me a few minutes of rattling my brain to realize "Oh my gawd those are pieces of broken hair from MY blond head!" After having a meltdown myself I rummaged through my bathroom hoping to find serious hair miracle.

I opted to try my brand new bottle of Aveda's After-Sun Hair Masque from their Sun Care line, popped open the cap and threw my head in the sink. Once I toweled off, I slathered the masque onto every damp strand I could find, grabbed my blow dryer and melted the masque about halfway into my tresses. Directions said let it sit for 2-5 minutes so I left it on for 20 and covered up with a shower cap. While I was rinsing in the shower I noticed a significant difference in my hair's texture. Usually dry with a few pesky tangles at the end, things seemed surprisingly smoother. After styling, my hair looked healthier, felt softer and all my usual frizz-induced volume was gone.

Unlike other hair masks I've used, this one really sticks to hair and absorbs quickly. It's chocked full of antioxidants including green tea, organic sunflower oil and Vitamin E to help protect against sun and fight free radical damage. Protein, coconut oil and aloe calm and condition and to top it all off, the masque has a clean, earthy, fresh out of the salon smell.

Swimming, hiking and running around in the summer heat has turned my hair is an obvious sun-kissed mess that probably won't fully heal until fall rolls around. But until then, this petite blue tube does a pretty darn good repair job. Aveda After-Sun Hair Masque is $26 and can be purchased at Aveda retail stores, salons and at aveda.com.

Microderm Deals: Banish Lackluster Skin for Less

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

When temperatures rise so high your Havaianas stick to the sidewalk it's officially summer in Arizona. Before you jet off to cooler pastures, take advantage of the time you spend hiding from the sun to get rid of those skincare issues that bug you the most. Microdermabrasion holds the bar high (in our book anyway) for whisking away dead skin cells and impurities that dull your complexion and cause breakouts. Freshen up with these unbeatable microderm deals that will leave you glowing -- all for less than $100.

$50 Microdermabrasion & Mask Special at Scosh Makeup & Skincare Studio (pictured), Scottsdale when you purchase a package of 3 sessions. Get a boost of healthy, summer color with a deep cleanse, microdermabrasion session and nutrient rich-mask.

$89 Microdermabrasion + Deluxe Facial at Deseret Aesthetic & Lifestyle Institute, Mesa. Skincare with a spa twist! Includes diamond tip microderm, clarifying facial, eyebrow wax and a moisture rich paraffin hand treatment.

$75 Microdermabrasion & Facial with Jennifer Swink at Sachi Salon & Spa, Scottsdale. Skin smoothing microderm blast followed by a finishing mask packed with a full day's dose of essential vitamins and minerals. Also comes with a hand, food and facial massage.

$60 Facial + Microdermabrasion at Lorna's Heavenly Skin Studio, Scottsdale. Undamaged, lackluster layers are blasted away and newly revealed skin is protected by a hydrating toner, mask, moisturizer and plenty of SPF.

$68 Crystal-Free Microdermabrasion Facial at Body Solutions Laser & Skin, Scottsdale. Pumps up pale, dry skin with deep exfoliation and a slather of nourishing oxygen botanical serum. Also includes a brow wax and gratuity.

$65 Express Microderm with Enzyme Peel at Bellissima Laser & Skin Center, Scottsdale. Diminish mild acne, problem areas and fine lines with a dose of exfoliating microdermabrasion and purifying peel.

$99 Microdermabrasion + Facial at Xtrim Med Spa, Gilbert. Grab a friend and chill out for an afternoon of deeply discounted skin services. Includes two microderm treatments and cleansing facials when you book together.

$75 Midweek Microdermabrasion at All About You MedSpa, Tempe. Break up the week with a skin pick-me-up for smooth, clear skin that will last all through the weekend.

$55 Microderm + Oxygen at La Bonne Vie Day Spa, Scottsdale. Crystal free skin resurfacing and oxygen mask banish dead surface cells and boost collagen and elastin production for a bright, healthy appearance.

$37 Microderm at Luminous Skin Studios, Chandler. Fine lines and discoloration are a thing of the past with diamond tip microdermabrasion and custom resurfacing mask.

Q-Tips Get a Hip New Look Plus 10 Handy Uses for this Must-Have Beauty Tool

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Here's a funny bit of trivia: Q-Tips were originally called Baby Gays. Heh. Marketed by a baby accessories company in the 1920s, the company eventually dropped the merry moniker and opted instead for the more descriptive Q-Tips name. Practically an American institution, the product hasn't changed much since it first hit the market. Even the packaging hasn't strayed much from the original. You've got your standard economy pack, vanity pack and the purse pack (perfect for travel). But keep an eye out for a groovy new twist on packaging coming soon to a store near you. The company has introduced new vanity packs in four bright colors and designs pretty enough to plop on your bathroom countertop. In honor of the cute new Q-Tips Vanity Packs, we polled the SpaGirl office for our own tips on how we use this versatile little beauty tool. Here are our 10 ways that we use Q-Tips in our own beauty routines.

1. Cleaning up stray nail polish after a home manicure or pedicure. Just dip the tip into nail polish remover (don't oversaturate) and gently rub away polish.

2. Smudging and softening eyeliner. After lining the upper lids, use a swab to gently smudge the liner to soften thick lines.

3. Swiping away powered eyeshadow flakes. Use a fresh Q-Tip to brush away any stray powder around the eye area.

4. Pressing on false eyelashes. Once you've attached the lash to the lip, use the tip of the swab to press and hold the lash in place until it dries.

5. Removing mascara smears or oopsies. Slightly dampen the tip and dab away any stray mascara.

6. Applying lip gloss. Keep your lip brush from getting gloppy with gloss by using a fresh Q-Tip to apply that final glossy finish.

7. Cleaning around your ears. Saturate the cotton tips with your regular facial toner or witch hazel and gently swipe around the inner curve of the upper lobe and for heaven's sake, clean up behind those ears.

8. Spot treating a zit. Dab your pimple potion on the end of the Q-Tip and dot it directly on the breakout.

9. Zapping a whitehead. Don't tell your aesthetician we told you this but when a whitehead is clearly about to burst at the worst possible moment, take a Q-Tip in each hand and gently squeeze upward on each side of the mountain of puss until it makes its way to the surface. We recommend you cleanse the area before and after and then make an appointment with your skincare professional for a deep-cleansing facial.

10. Applying makeup in a pinch. When your makeup brushes are filthy or you're on the road, use Q-Tips to apply concealer, eyeshadow and lip gloss.

The new Q-Tips Cotton Swabs Vanity Packs (285 count) will be hitting shelves soon and will retail for $3.19. Get more tips at qtips.com.

Product Review: Nude Skincare Cleansing Facial Oil

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

One look at this facial cleansing oil and we all shook our heads simultaneously. "I'm not gonna try it. You try it...." rang out across the SpaGirl office. So we (generously) passed along our sample to friend and fellow blogger Carrie Wheeler of crackinggood.com. Now we're kicking ourselves for not being doughty enough to try it out on our own dry skin. Here's Carrie's glowing review.

My husband enjoys cooking, shopping and High School Musical. You could say he's in touch with his feminine side. But his skin-care routine is where he asserts his manliness: He has not, and will not, use any sort of "beauty" product.

"I don't want to strip my skin of its natural oils," is his excuse.

There actually might be something to that.

Traditional cleansers often result in taut, stripped skin we equate with clean, but can be drying. With that in mind, I decided to give Nude's Cleansing Facial Oil a try.

First off, the Nude line is made from skin and earth-friendly ingredients and packed in recyclable bottles. What's not to like about that?

I pump some of the light oil into my hand and massage it into my skin. Add a little warm water and the oil turns into the consistency of a creamy cleanser that also doubles as a makeup remover. Rinse off with warm water and behold softer, dewy skin.

I worried that, after prolonged use, my pores might clog and I'd end up with soft, yet acne-laden skin.

Not so. Thus far, I've only used the oil for night-time cleansing, but afterward, my skin is smooth, clear and chemical free ... the way nature intended.

Nude Skincare Cleansing Facial Oil is free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals and phthalates. The product has earned Sephora's natural seal of approval and is $52 at Sephora stores and sephora.com.

Don't Fret the Sweat: Products to Keep You Fresh and Funk-Free

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:00:00 GMT

Cat's outta the bag. Girls sweat (gasp!). Here are favs for keeping cool and dry during the season of sweat.

There's no escaping that feeling of sweaty britches in the dead of summer. LUSH Silky Underwear Dusting Powder comes to the rescue with a combo of cornstarch and tiny grains of cocoa butter to keep you fresh and dry. $11.25 at lush.com and LUSH in Scottsdale Fashion Square.

When all else fails, go commando with Miss Oops Nundies. These little wonders are made of nylon and Lycra and simply adhere to the inseam of your pants. No panty lines, no underwear creepage and dare we say, no sweat. $9.99 for packs of seven at Glam Lounge and missoops.com.

Never leave home without 24/7 Facial Blotting Tissues. This hands-down SpaGirl favorite is a handy pack of all-natural rice papers that sop up excess oil in three formulations. $7.49 at Mozaik Skin & Body in Scottsdale and select Ulta stores.

You know that magical time of the day after your shower and before you put on your makeup when you just can't stop sweating? Cool your jets with a blast of LATHER Cucumber & Ginseng Facial Mist. Keep it in the frig and pop in your cooler when you're heading out to the pool. $14 at lather.com and the LATHER store at Kierland Commons.

For skin that's dewy not drenched, the new Bliss Naked Body Butter Lite is fast-absorbing and super light weight and banishes reptile skin. $29 at blissworld.com and Bliss Scottsdale at the W Hotel.

A spritz of Payot Deodorant Douceur Spray goes a long way to reduce the dreaded B.O. by controlling perspiration all day long. Enriched with soothing botanicals, you can squirt it all over from the neck down to counteract the sweat. $30 at Spa Avania at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale and other select salons and spas.

They aren't your grandmother's pit pads. The Pure Style Girlfriends Haute Stuff is an ultra-thin disposable liner that adheres to the underarm of your top to stop the wet spot. $17 at purestylegirlfriends.com.

When your perspiration takes on a personality of its own, it's time to call in the sweat-free power of Certain Dri Antiperspirant. Apply it a few times per week at bedtime to prevent the sweat. $5.95 at drugstores and mass retailers.

Over-shampooing can lead to dry tresses but sweaty scalp makes hair look oily. Counteract head sweat with Biolage scalptherapie Cooling Mint Oil Control Treatment, which purifies the scalp of excess oil and impurities. $10 at select Valley salons. Visit matrix.com for retail locations.

Foot powders are effective but messy. To combat foot funk, try Fragrant Footings Insoles, which with each step, release microscopic bursts of the dry, natural aromas of lemon, mint or jasmine. $11-$15 at summersoles.com.