There are a gazillion hair products, hair tools, and hair styles that we lust after as magazine-toting, Extra-watching, celeb-envying consumers that we are.
But in 2011 we want you to put down that mag, step away from the TV and instead of envying Jennifer’s, Taylor’s, Sandra’s or whoever else’s hair type and style… envy your own!
Pamper your hair with a once weekly conditioning treatment. Melvita Capiforce Hair Mask is a great choice. Its rich, buttery texture “melts” into hair quickly delivering nourishment and hydration to thirsty strands.
Try heat-less hairstyles and embrace the natural texture of your hair. Heat from your blow-dryer, flat iron and curler damage your hair. Reduce use of heat to keep your hair at its optimum.
If you use heat tools then use a thermal protectant! Try ALTERNA BAMBOO Smooth Kendi Oil Dry Mist, a weightless, nutrient rich mist that combines strengthening, pure Organic Bamboo with smoothing, Organic Kendi Oil to eliminate frizz, protect hair from heat styling tools, enhance shine & protect color while boosting your hair’s health.
Get a regular trim every 6-8 weeks to keep your hair looking fresh. Split ends make your hair look frizzy and unhealthy. If you have bangs then get a bang trim every 4-6 weeks. The hair that frames your face (like bangs and side wispies) requires more attention because these are the essential pieces that pull your entire look together.
And as always, make sure to take your multi-vitamins and essential fatty acids to maintain hair health. Your body doesn’t produce some amino acids and EFA’s that are essential for hair (and skin) beauty, therefore you’ll need to get them from other sources like supplements and of course, a well-balanced diet.
We hope that you (and your hair) have a beautiful year! If you have hair care and hair style tips, please share with us in the comments below, on facebook or on twitter!
Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win a 5-product regimen from NIA24! Enter now!
Color treated hair can be difficult to maintain. Some shampoos may strip your color, fade the intensity and leave your hair dry and frizzy. Some conditioners may be too heavy and weigh down your hair while not giving it the essential protein it needs.
I highly recommend the Alterna Caviar Anti Aging Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner Duo, I receive consistent positive feedback from every customer who has tried these two products! The Caviar Anti Aging Moisture Shampoo is a sulfate free cleanser that hydrates dry hair. The Caviar Anti Aging Moisture Conditioner provides daily nourishment for dry hair. Both can be used on fine, color treated, permed, and damaged hair to minimize the visible signs of aging and lock in color. Both are FIVE STAR customer rated products!
For very dry and damaged hair, colored hair, or hair in need of lots of TLC, I recommend Alterna TEN Hair Masque as a once a week indulgence! This masque is the perfect fusion of ten key elements from around the globe to transform any hair from ordinary to extraordinary. Another FIVE STAR customer rated product!
Fight the frizz and captivate with your color! Alterna Caviar Anti Aging products are a MUST HAVE!
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We’re sure that you endlessly hear about the importance of exfoliation. Your skin looks and feels better when it’s free of dead skin cells, residue and pore-clogging debris. We’re also sure that you know all about alpha hydroxyl acids and beta hydroxyl acids and enzymes and manual exfoliants, like scrubs. But… do you know about exfoliating your hair? Yes… hair! Dead skin cells, product residue, minerals from hard water and other pollutants build up in your hair, dull the shine, and make your hair brittle and more susceptible to breakage. No good!
Thank goodness that there are amazing products that you can use to ensure shiny, bouncy, healthy hair! So, here’s a simple and easy guide on keeping your scalp clear of baddies.
Begin with a clarifying scalp treatment. We’re obsessed with Rene Furterer Complexe 5 Regenerating Plant Extract. Its unique concentration of over 50% orange and lavender essential oils stimulates microcirculation and invigorates the scalp to enhance the growth of healthy, beautiful hair, while providing a deep cleanse. Use a clarifying scalp treatment once every one to two weeks to maintain a clear scalp.
Eliminate rubbish with a shampoo. Phyto Phytosylic is a twice-a-week shampoo for all types of hair that effectively eliminates flaking and treats dandruff problems. Its gentle formulation combines the benefits of essential oils with willow bark extract enriched with salicylic acid. Use Phytosylic on alternate days to Rene Furterer Complexe 5, or use this shampoo instead of the treatment if you’re a busy bee and can’t commit the time to Rene Furterer Complexe 5.
Once your hair is purified and clear of all the bad stuff, deposit some good stuff! Your freshly exfoliated scalp will drink up hair-growth boosting treatments! Try Phyto Phytoaxil Fortifying Treatment; Phytoaxil is exclusively formulated with natural active principles and is proven to help hair growth!
What are some of your favorite hair and scalp-purifying treatments? Maybe a trusty home-made remedy? We’d love to know!
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Are your locks not looking so luscious lately? Shiny, happy hair may be easier than you thought. Simply, scour the contents of your fridge and viola your strands are back in the game! All you need is apple juice, apple cider vinegar and pear juice for an easy at home remedy.
Apples not only keep the doctor away, but also revive tired, dull, over processed tresses. Apples contain key vitamins and are loaded with potassium to help strengthen your hair. Studies have also shown that apple polyphenols stimulate hair growth.
Pear juice is added to the mix, which contains a low pH balance. A low pH is crucial because it changes the hair’s electric charge, allowing the cuticle to lie flat. When the hair lies flat, light is reflected imparting a shinier appearance.
Last, but certainly not least is Apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is highly acidic, quickly removing excess oil from the scalp and waxy buildup. The hair is left squeaky clean, glossy and manageable.
Ingredients: 1 cup of apple juice, 1 cup of pear juice, and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Directions: Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature and mix well before application. Apply treatment to freshly washed hair and leave on for three minutes. Rinse and condition hair as usual. Use as needed, when your locks require some extra good lovin’.
Summer of 2010 is in full swing and we hope you’re enjoying it to its fullest! Whether you’re playing on a sandy beach in Mexico, lounging by the pool in Las Vegas, or hiking the Himalayas in India you’re probably well equipped with a goody bag full of your favorite skin care products (you are, a SkinStore customer after all!) We always want to know what you’re toting around to keep your skin looking wonderful through the seasons- and we’re sure that you’re curious to see what our top favorites are, so we’ve compiled a list of THE top 10 must haves for this fabulous summer!
Clarisonic. ‘Nuff said! This is our number one seller, and for a good reason! The Clarisonic comes in three versions- Mia for travel, Classic for facial cleansing and exfoliation and Plus for facial exfoliation and cleansing as well as body use (perfect pedicure, anyone?). Clarisonic uses a sonic technology to cleanse deeply within the pores and is two times more effective than manual cleansing and six times more effective at removing make-up! Therefore with daily use of the Clarisonic you’ll prevent breakouts and clogged pores, and the exfoliating factor will make large pores appear smaller, and the texture of the skin much smoother! It’s great for all skin types and all ages. Staff favorite, customer favorite… we can’t say enough great things about this product!
Antioxidants. Chances are, you’re spending a lot of time outdoors during the summer chasing after kids, swimming, playing outdoor sports and barbequing… while you may be religiously applying sunscreen to protect your skin, you may not be applying antioxidants which ward off free radicals that cause lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Antioxidant serums are a great way to go, because they’re light in consistency so they won’t feel heavy on the skin and they soak right in to provide up to twenty four hours of broad-spectrum antioxidant protection without reapplication! We’re fans of CE Ferulic which provides a potent vitamin C (which has brightening benefits) in addition to power-house antioxidant ingredients like hydrating vitamin E and Ferulic acid.
Sunscreen. Everybody knows that sunscreen protection is the utmost important factor in keeping your skin healthy! Thank goodness for savvy chemists who know how to formulate sunscreen in uber-elegant recipes. Since it hit the market in May, SkinCeuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50 has been selling like hotcakes! We have trouble keeping this stuff in stock. It’s a one of its kind physical sunscreen that’s a transparent, mattifying liquid that is paraben-free and offers true broad spectrum coverage from UVA and UVB rays, it’s great for all skin types and ages and stays put without feeling heavy or greasy, and it doesn’t have an unpleasant sunscreen smell! And while SkinCeuticals has created an amazing formula for the face, La Roche Posay (another renowned SPF pioneer) has created La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Melt In Sunscreen Milk which is great for the body. This fast absorbing, non-greasy milk provides SPF 60 and broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection with the breakthrough Cell-Ox Shield, to protect your skin, even at the cellular level.
Don’t neglect your hair. You have face and body covered! But that leaves out your luscious locks. Keep your hair looking its best with protective hair products. Since the sun can be dehydrating to your skin, it can also be super dehydrating to your hair too (straw hair = yuck!), use a leave-in conditioner that has a UV filter. We enjoy Rene Furterer Okara 2 Phase Leave-In Protective Conditioner CPF 80 because it not only has a potent UV filter but it also keeps the hair smooth, shiny and polished with its Okara complex.
Fake it. You’re probably thinking that all of this SPF protection will not allow for you to get any color! So cheat the sun and the sun damage, and instead of baking it…get good at faking it! There are hundreds of self tanners that’ll give you a beautiful golden glow! TanTowel Plus Full Body Self Tanning Towelettes are a great way to getting tan, they’re odorless and SO easy to use! This tan is easy to apply and because the self-tanning liquid is in a handy towel it’s virtually mess free! PLUS NO streaking! We promise!
Hydrate. What about dry skin? In the summertime our skin is frequently exposed to sun, sand, salty ocean water or chlorine from the pool. We tend to hydrate more frequently and diligently in the other seasons when it’s colder or dryer out, but our summer skin needs moisture too, and very much so after excess exposure to the elements. Rehydrate your skin with L’Occitane Cupuacu After-Sun Balm Lotion, it’s our summer favorite! This after sun lotion is formulated with organic vegetable butter of Cupuaçu, which is the ideal ingredient to intensely hydrate and regenerate skin after sun exposure because it holds four times its weight in water, therefore providing immense hydration without feeling greasy.
To ward off dehydration on the go, it’s great to throw a refreshing spray into your beach tote. Kerstin Florian Aromatherapy Neroli Water is a delight to use because it’s soothing, hydrating and refreshing and can be used all of the body, or on the face… and it won’t disturb make-up!
Conceal. A blemish here, a sun spot there, dark circles from lack of sleep (there are too many fun things to do in the summer)… what’s a gal to do to stay looking fresh and feeling fabulous? Concealer is the magic wand of a make-up maven. This summer we’re in love with Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer because of its highly pigmented formula that’s also water resistant. It erases dark circles, blemishes, broken capillaries, sun damage and redness with only using a tiny amount of product (and we mean TINY!) a little tube will last and last and last.
Nail Time. Every girl knows that a perfect pedicure is a summer MUST. Coral always looks hot on the fingernails and is absolutely amazing for toes in the sweet summer time (bonus: corals and yellows visually intensify your tan). SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Love and Happiness is a gorgeous coral orange crème that looks fantastic when paired with strappy golden sandals!
Poet William Carlos Williams has said “In summer, the song sings itself”, and boy wasn’t he right! Enjoy this gorgeous weather, throw some hot dogs on the grill, read a great book, and lather on the SPF! Now that you’ve got a list of our TOP 10 summer favorites it’s easy to choose great summer products! What are your top picks?
Certain items are excluded from offers. Each product detail page indicates if the promotion does not apply. Promo codes may not apply to already discounted items.
BBQ’s and pool parties come hand in hand during these summer months. While men don’t even flinch about summer time, women tend to go into detox mode. All we need is a little bit of preparation tips & tricks to get the ball rolling and come prepared when that pool party arrives. So instead of biting your finger nails and becoming a detox princess, follow these guidelines…
After you’ve marked your special date on your calendar, the preparation can begin. You know you will be in a bikini soon, so what immediately comes to mind? Maybe we need a little bit of color, or spot treatments to concern areas? With the few weeks leading up to the event, we can exfoliate our body just like our faces a few times a week. This will get rid of all of the dead skin on the surface so that when we are ready to reveal our skin it will look healthy and smooth. In between exfoliation sessions, don’t forget about shaving. I know I am probably not the only one who likes to borrow good men’s shaving products. Grab some Jack Black Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Shave Lather. I say if it’s strong and comfortable enough for a man, then it would be bliss for a woman. After you shave, don’t forget to prevent and protect your freshly shaved areas with some ingrown hair/ bump fighters! For a suggestion, try Whish Flawless Bump Fighter.
The next prep step would be to pick out and apply a self tanner. We want to look golden and sun kissed at our events but without harm from the sun! We suggest that you take a look at the following self tan products:
They are all different options for different types of needs. They range from creams, to lotion/milk textures and even gel textures. These will get you glowing quickly and what a way to help slim up your figure too! Now that you are pretty much ready to flaunt your pool party body and smile, there are a few other items you should remember to stay flawless. Be sure you remember to always wear your preferred SPF products for the face and the body! If you need, there are always some relaxing and soothing after sun products as well. Click here for more info on after sun care.
You can also protect your hair during these weekend water & sun celebrations with products like:
Well I think we’ve pretty much covered as much as possible on how to prepare from head to toe. You should feel tan, toned, smooth and fit to stun when you arrive at your summer soiree. Oh, and don’t forget those designer shades!
We’re offering special 15% discount exclusive to our readers. Use promo code BLOG15 at SkinStore to save 15% for a limited time. It’s our way of saying “thank you” for being loyal readers!
Offer ends Monday, July 19, 2010.
Certain products are excluded from offers. Each product detail page indicates if the promotion does not apply. Sale pricing, promotional codes and other special offers cannot be applied toward prior purchases. Promotional codes may not apply to already discounted items.
This is a follow up to my article about essential oils. Here are some products SkinStore carries that you may find helpful that contain aromatic blends of essential oils and extracts to calm the mind, refresh the body and beautify the skin.
Hair
Phyto Phytopolleine Botanical Scalp Treatment: This product has a blend of 100% essential oils to stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth while controlling oil production. Essential oils include lemon peel oil, rosemary, sage, cajeput, and cypress.
Rene Furterer Complexe 5 Regenerating Plant Extract:You will want to keep this product in your shower and use once a week, trust me! It has a pleasant citrus smell that makes you feel like you are really treating yourself and your hair to something wonderful. Essential oils include orange, lavender, and thyme.
Body
Kerstin Florian Aromatherapy Harmony Body Oil:This is an old favorite of mine, and it works great for at home spa treatments. Mix a few drops with an unscented lotion, massage into skin and enjoy. Essential oils included in this product are lavender, geranium, mandarin, and grapefruit oil.
Melvita Plant Oils Hemp Oil: This is wonderful body oil and it can also be used on the face. You can use this product alone or with a moisturizer. It is extremely hydrating without any greasy sticky leftovers.
Archipelago Botanicals Grapefruit Body Lotion: This lotion has a nice fragrance without being overpowering. There are plenty of essential oils such as orange, grape seed and jojoba oil to hydrate and protect your skin.
Face
Sundari Essential Oil for Dry Skin: This is a great skin booster for someone with dry dull skin looking to add some hydration. A blend of almond, sesame, orange and rose oil make this an excellent product for repairing and brightening the skin.
Yonka Pamplemousse PG:Works great for those oily combination skin types. It also will help lighten and brighten your skin with Yonka’s custom blend of essential oils.
Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer: This is a nice matte finish moisturizer that works best for oily to combination skin types. It instantly hydrates your skin with a blend of fruit extracts such as apple, grape, and aloe juice. Antioxidants of Vitamin A,C, B5, and E have also been included to protect the skin.
Bath products
Molton Brown Intoxicating Davana Blossom Foaming Bath Oil:Contains a blend of essential oils that are just what your skin needs to stay fresh and hydrated. Also makes a wonderful gift for someone would could use a little luxury.
Jurlique Lavender Silk Finishing Powder:This light textured powder works perfect for anyone that wants to hide a little shine on their face, without covering up your best features.
DuWop Venom Gloss Berry Chill: This adds gloss and shine while hydrating and conditioning your lips because it contains jojoba and avocado oil. It also has a plumping effect, so pucker up!
Shiny hair is sexy. Shiny hair signals youth and fertility, so instinctively men love a woman with luscious locks. Here are a few simple and easy steps that every woman can take to keep her hair shiny, and to keep those boys breaking their necks.
People with oily hair tend to over wash their hair. When the hair is stripped of its essential oils it goes into overdrive to produce more oils, so it’s a never ending battle to keep oily hair clean. Instead, wash only a few times a week if your hair is oily. The oils in your hair condition the roots and lengths of your hair, and will keep the hair shiny and supple. If the root area looks greasy, use a dry shampoo to keep it immaculate. Frederic Fekkai Au Naturel Dry Shampoo is a great choice.
If you have normal to dry hair and a dry scalp, it’s likely that your hair stays fresh for quite some time. Once weekly washings are appropriate to those that don’t produce much oil at the scalp and the oil that is produced will be beneficial and hydrating to the hair, so use a soft boar bristle brush to pull the oils from the roots through the lengths of the hair.
Don’t overuse heat tools. Stick straight hair is so 2005, so don’t flat iron your hair to its death. Instead, embrace the natural texture that you were born with. Air dry hair when possible, and if you need to use a blow-dryer, opt for a cool setting instead of high heat. My therapist (I mean stylist) has taught me some great hair care tricks over the years, but one of my favorites is a blow-drying tip. Part the hair and spritz with heat-protective spray, then blow dry only at the roots, let the ends of the hair air-dry… this always gives my hair a lot of natural movement but doesn’t leave the top of my head kinked. If you like your hair curly, then traditional curling rods are a better choice than a high-heat curling iron, so if you’re sporting ringlets let dry hair set in curlers for a few hours.
Lay off the chemical processing for a change. Highlights, lowlights, double processing, triple processing, you’ve done it all. Every chemical process does a bit of damage, and when color is constantly pulled out and deposited in, the hair strand becomes more and more damaged. Color only the hair that hasn’t been colored, we advise professional root touch ups every 6-8 weeks. And quit with the drama already… If you don’t have naturally light hair, the peroxide that you use will eat up your healthy dark tresses. And light haired girls that go uber-dark can end up with those grey-looking roots (nobody wants to look like they have a receding hair line). Many colorists say that the most flattering color you can have as an adult is the hair color that you had as a child. Was it sunny and blonde, but turned a little brassy and mousy as you got older? Pump up the volume on the developer and lighten up! Did you have gorgeous black hair as a baby but it looks a little worn and ashen? Deposit a rich hue to bring out the vibrancy!
One of the most important rules in hair care is to trim your hair regularly. Hair that has split ends (no matter how well cared for) can look dry and brittle. Regular trims keep the hair looking slick and smooth, not bushy and unruly.
Remember that hair care products play a huge role in the way your hair looks. Using quality shampoo and conditioner that are made for your specific hair type will be beneficial to the health of your hair. Yes, a shampoo and conditioner made for color-treated hair can improve and prolong your hair color. A shampoo and conditioner made for oily hair will help to balance the production of sebum in the scalp. A shampoo and conditioner made for normal to dry hair will condition the hair thoroughly to provide greater manageability.
Leave-in treatment products are very beneficial to the hair. Leave-in conditioners (in spray or cream form) help to condition the hair and seal the cuticle so it’s pliable and elastic, therefore less prone to break. Leave-in products such as shine enhancing sprays and serums seal the hair cuticle and impart shine, so hair not only feels healthier, it also looks better.
Deep conditioners are intense and really beneficial to thirsty hair. Because I have platinum hair that requires a lot of color developer to lift the ashy-ness out of my roots, and A LOT of toner to keep it neutral instead of brassy, my hair is always thirsty. In addition to using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner and leave-in products I love a once-weekly deep conditioner, and you will too once you try one. When you can’t afford to have it in-salon (or just have no time or desire to sit in a salon chair for two hours) use a hair masque at home instead! After washing and conditioning the hair, apply a generous amount of hair masque that’s appropriate to your hair type (I LOVE the Alterna TEN Hair Masque), put on a shower cap and use your blow-dryer to warm up the hair (make sure the cap isn’t the type that melts), this will allow for your hair cuticle to open up and absorb more of the active ingredients. Then rinse, dry and voila! Shiny, bouncy, smooth hair that’s manageable and silky.
Trying to find products which produce hair excellence can be extremely exhausting! Through climate conditions, chemical services, and daily aggressors, hair can be left limp, dry, dull or even lifeless. However, beautiful, bouncy, soft and shiny hair can be achieved with the right line of products. Finding your dream products is possible if the proper research is applied in direction of your concerns.
To find balance between your hair and scalp, look towards products of the Alterna Life solutions line. The technologies used in these products nourish the areas that need special attention, while protecting hair color and vibrancy.
If your hair is in need of a daily health diet, try out the Alterna Hemp with Organics line. This line is packed full of proteins, minerals and vitamins. It is the perfect hair care supplement which provides certified organic botanicals to the core of you locks to prevent damage before it strikes.
For hair that is already damaged, Alterna has created a line of products infused with an age-control complex. This complex consists of 3 key ingredients including caviar extract (a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids), vitamin c, and cytokines (which stimulate microcirculation). This line is great if you are looking to slow down the aging process and improve the overall appearance of your hair.
If you are looking to really pamper your hair, there is an enzyme therapy inspired line called 10 The Science of Ten. This line is a luxurious product line driven by performance at its best!
Alterna has been featured in numerous magazines throughout the years, as well as been recognized for numerous awards. They are very active contributors in support of philanthropic endeavors. Their products are amazing and definitely deserve the recognition they strive for!
If you continue to search for your all star hair products, I would suggest you give Alterna a try. I am convinced and very satisfied with the results I am provided with in using their products and would definitely give them my two thumbs up. Thank you Alterna.
For years I’ve felt victimized by my less than fabulous fine hair genes. My locks were always limp and lifeless. I yearned for a full voluminous mane that every starlet seems to have inherited effortlessly. But, when I delved a little deeper, I discovered some of my favorite actresses also have fine hair. Instead of surrendering to their less than lively hair predicament they have fought back and won!
Fine hair darlings Jessica Biel, Cameron Diaz, Kiera Knightley, Victoria Beckham, and Gwyneth Paltrow all showcase the right way to add style and oomph to your do!
Add Curls: To create body, add curls with hot rollers or a curling iron. Jessica Biel is famous for sporting beachy tousled waves on the red carpet.
Volumizing Products: Don’t leave the house without your volumizing products. A volumizing mousse or gel gives extra lift to your roots. Try blow drying your hair upside down for added oomph. Stray away from leave-in or heavy conditioners that weigh the hair down.
Hair Pieces: We all need a little help every now and then right?! So why not experiment with a hair piece or extensions. Kiera Knightley has mastered the art of adding volume to an updo with hair pieces.
Posh Bob: Keep it short! Victoria Beckham has revamped the classic bob and made short hair fashionable again. The posh bob works wonderfully for fine hair. The shorter you go, the fuller your locks will look. Fine long hair tends to look thin and is easily weighed down by products and over styling.
Tease It: Be a tease. Backcombing hair at the crown creates sexy volume and texture.
Blunt Cut: Don’t be afraid to be blunt. A blunt cut creates the illusion of more hair. Keep the ends the same length all around, only adding layers to frame the face. Avoid layers throughout the rest of your hair or a razor cut that makes the hair look sparse and thin. Gwyneth Paltrow’s hair is often cut blunt, making it appear thicker.
Highlights: Do blondes really have more fun? Highlights add depth and dimension to limp hair. Starlets like Cameron Diaz are famous for their fine golden locks.
Add these tricks to your hair styling repertoire and your hair will go from flat to fabulous!
Visit SkinStore.com for all your hair care essentials.