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MECARD:N:Tiffany Henderson Owner Me Time Mobile Spa 703-200-7268 tiffany@metimemobilespa.com http\://metimemobilespa.com;;

Nail Rock !

If you thought designer fashion stopped at handbags and threads--think again! While in New York for Fashion Week I had the pleasure of meeting Zoe Pocock, Celebrity Manicurist and Creative Director of Nail Rock, designer nail wraps straight from the UK. They are easy to apply, come with instructions, and are the most practical way to wear different designs on your nails without all the drama of visiting and revisiting the salon. A swatch of nail wraps will run you about 6.65000 British Pound = 10.51384 US Dollar. My favorite design so far is of course the Leopard Skin.

My New Obsession

I know I haven't written in a while, so I thought I'd make this post special. After talking to many of my clients and noticing a trend in my posts, I've decided to focus my blog entirely on "Budget Beauty"--how to not break the bank and still enjoy luxury beauty products and treatments. One way to try the best on the beauty market without spending too much money is with Birchbox. Birchbox is a great sample service that cost $10 per month and sends beauty addicted product junkies, such as myself, deluxe size samples of all the latest cosmetics, skin care, and fragrances. They even have gifts and individual beauty items for purchase such as flat irons, makeup brushes, and more. Check it out (https://www.birchbox.com/)!

Sephora Skin Care Gifts For All On Your Christmas List

No need to be frazzled during this Christmas shopping season when shopping for much needed skin care gifts. Here is a list of effective skin care products and gift sets for everyone on your list that come as a great value !

 

Your little sister in high school who is fighting acne. This kit contains all the necessary acids that dryout blemishes, but also contains essential oils that help restore moisture.

    Recommendation: Murad Acne Complex Starter Kit $33

Your mommy {dearest} eager to combat the aging process. This PTR kit is packed with peptides to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles by 72%.

Recommendation: Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Kit

http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P227701&categoryId=B70

Your girlfriend who leads a high stress lifestyle that is starting to wear on her distressed skin. Stressed skin can have the appearance of looking very dull. Bliss' oxygenating skin care trio is powered by Vitamin C to bring life back to tired, lackluster skin.

Recommendation: Bliss Glow-Ho-Ho Radiance Revving Triple Oxygen Trio $75
 http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P298305&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=4326#moreInfo

Your sun worshipping west coast relatives who still need to be told about the damage of tanning. This moisturizer is tinted, which makes it a great option for the winter and it also contains SPF 15 allowing it to protect from the strong rays that still manage to damage our skin during the cold season.

Recommendation: Dr. Dennis Gross All-in-One Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 $44

Your hubby who of course has perfect skin and only uses soap. The packaging of this mask is great for males. Just like the tube, the mask is all black and works with mineral rich clays to purify the skin and tighten pores. Great after his daily workouts!
Recommendation: Boscia Illuminizing Black Mask $34

For everyone and anyone on your list that wishes for perfect skin....The Clarisonic! I rave about this product all the time, because it is in fact one of the best skin care products on the market. It offer a gentle, manual brush exfoliation that deep cleans and refines. Use the Clarisonic daily or weekly, depending on how often you exfoliate, while pairing with an appropiate face wash.

Recommendation: Now is a great time to buy, because Clarisonic is offer their Mia Cleansing Systems for just $119.

Selma Hayek Skin Care Line: Nuance @ CVS

CVS is a great place to find beauty products at bargain prices. Nuance by Selma Hayek is a new skin care line that is inspired by Selma's grandmother and exotic ingredients from around the world. One thing that I liked about the products, other than the affordability, is that the natural, effective ingredients were high up on the ingredient list, validating their potency. The skin care and cosmetics products in particular that scored the highest reviews and that are my faves are Renewing and Brightening Facial Serum, AM/PM Anti-Aging Super Cream, and Wild lime Exfoliating Facial Gel. Watch this clip to hear about Selma's favorites: 
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Fall Time Exfoliation That Won't Break The Bank!

During the dry, cold season of Fall finding a way to exfoliate your skin without causing irritation and dryness can be hard to do. The good news, especially for all of you with sensitive skin, is that an effective gentle exfoliation can be as close as your refrigerator. 100% whole milk contains many enzymes and fatty acids that dissolve dead skin, cleanse, and hydrate the skin all at once. Try soaking a soft wash cloth in milk at night and patting over your face three or four times for smooth, clean skin. This ritual is best for people with sensitive, dry, and/or mature skin. 

Kim Kardashian's Wedding Makeup

Kim K's wedding photos have been out for a while, but after watching "Kim's Fairytale Wedding" this weekend and admiring her look (as usual) I was so happy to see how natural and soft her makeup looked. The idea of looking like the prettiest version of yourself is so true and can be achieved so easily by choosing colors that complement your skin tone and staying away from bold colors. Try Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, the queen of the "natural look", for natural looking makeup options on your big day. Kim's makeup artist focused on her best facial features (her eyes) and used a line up on Lancome products to achieve her look, click here for details.

Brushes That Won't Break The Bank!

Target is one of my favorite bargain beauty stores. While shopping at the super Target in Alexandria I found some good quality e.l.f. brushes ranging from $1 to $3!!! Unbelievable prices. These brushes are great options for teenagers looking to start their makeup kit or a seasoned makeup maven that needs a few more essentials.

Beauty on a Budget

With the abundance of skin care products on the shelves of our local drugstores it is hard to know which ones are worth buying and actually work. For the month of October I will be sharing some effective products that can combat the most popular skin care concerns, all of which can be found in your local drugstore. The best part is they won't break the bank!

Red Door Spa, Harrah's, Atlantic City

I had the pleasure of receiving an Essential facial at Red Door Spa in Harrah's Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City over Fourth of July weekend. It completely surpassed my expectations! I like how every Red Door Spa isn't exactly the same and seems to take on the look and feel of its location. The Red Door Spa in Atlantic City is huge, with a separate area that is includes a steam room, jacuzzi, and sauna. Elizabeth Arden products are loaded to aromatherapy. My favorite was the exfoliant used in the essential facial and the cremy mint mask. With the purchase of a spa treatment you can enjoy the spa facility all day. Four Stars!!!

Prom Makeup @ it's BEST!

Prom makeup should be flirty, fun, and age appropiate. If your skin is well prepped by being exfoliated and moisturized to create a smooth canvas, loads of makeup is unneccesary. Some sparkle on the eyes and a pop of color on the lips and you're all set. Here is a pic of my favorite little sister before her prom a couple of weeks ago. Makeup by yours truly.

The Dewy Look...

J.Lo really knows how to achieve the dewy look. Personally this is my favorite makeup look, especially for the summer. Today I mixed my liquid Loreal True Match and Avenda Tourmalines moisturizer to achieve a sexy, natural glow.

Spa in the Spotlight: NYC's Spa Butterfly

Spa Butterfly
I needed some travel therapy over President's Day weekend and went to New York for the day with a girlfriend. Spa Butterfly was a pleasant surprise while on my way to Grand Central station. For a "nail salon" spa, it was so inviting, clean, and "esthetically pleasing" as I always say. I had the Axxium Gel Manicure and loved it! As someone who doesn't like to do artificial nails, but I'm never really satisfied with how short a natural nail manicure last either; Axxium Gel is the best of both worlds. Gel is applied to dry manicured nails. No need for polish, but go with the darker colors!

www.spabutterfly.com

Nia Long's Beauty Secrets

After watching the stunning Nia Long host Black Girls Rock, I hopped on my labtop and did some goggling. I can't help but wonder how she stays looking so young. I mean she doesn't look like she has aged one bit. I came across a slideshow on bet.com that highlights 15 or so of Nia Long's "beauty secrets". I was so happy to find out that many of the products I love Nia uses as well. Clarisonic being one of them! Follow the link to see how Nia manages to wow us with her natural beauty everytime she hits the screen.

Product Showcase: CLARISONIC!!!

While in Sephora on a beauty haul with my sister, I was approached by a sales associate to test the Clarisonic. Being the Savvy Aesthetician I am, I didn't need a tutorial on this ingenious creation. I, for one, love the Clarisonic and would advise everyone to buy one---in a perfect world. Seriously, if you suffer from blackheads, dull skin, or simply want your skin to look more radiant then the Clarisonic is for you. The Clarisonic uses micro massage action to thoroughly clean skin and reduce the appearance of pore skin. This product is gentle yet deep cleansing, allowing products to absorb better ultimately leading to healthier skin. It isn't cheap, the Clarisonic is $195, but the one speed Clarisonic Mia is only $149. You can learn more and shop at http://clarisonic.com/us/. Now offering engraving options to make for the perfect Christmas gift for those wanting beautiful skin!!!

Makeup with Margoux

My very first fashion show!!! I assisted celebrity makeup artist Margoux Leroux http://blog.margouxleroux.com/ at Black Fashion Focus and learned A LOT! All the models looked gorgeous after we made them up with some products that grace the counters of your local drugstores. My favorite place to get affordable makeup is CVS, but like most peoples' experience, you can't try before you buy when shopping there. Getting the chance to "play" in a celebrity makeup artist kit gave me the chance to use some of the best products that have the best prices.

Eucerin--Best Moisturizers

This thick creme moisturizer is great for evening out a dry skin type. It is dermatologist recommended and great for the most sensitive skin. A little goes a long way. CVS $9

Clear Gloss

During the fashion show we did alot of "touching up". I never used so much clear gloss in my life. We must have went through half a tube, but it really helped to have a liner base, lip color, and coats and coats or clear lip on top so that the color could POP for the camera!

Wet n Wild Lip Liners---Yes, cheap and it does the trick!!

Essence of Beauty brushes blended our colors fabulously and also can be found at CVS.

Cell Phones and Breakouts

While driving to work I was listening to the radio and certainly wasn't too jazzed to find out that cell phone were on the list of the top 5 dirtiest surfaces. I mean I know that cell phones can get dirty, but I didn't know they were up there with money and public toilet seats. So then of course I started thinking about my skin! Ever wonder why your right cheek stays with papules and pustules....clean your cell phone!!!! Yes, dirty cell phones can cause breakouts the same way old makeup and soiled pillow cases can.

Stress Low=Skin Glow!!!

If you notice that your skin acts up whenever your stress levels are high you may want to do your complexion a favor---calm down! Pychodermatology is a field that is growing as dermatologist take a more integrated approach to the correlation between the mind and the body (specifically the skin). Studies show that skin disorders like eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and of course acne tend to flare up when stress levels are high.

Interestingly, Bruce Katz, MD, director of the Juva Skin and Laser Center and the director of the cosmetic surgery and laser clinic at Mount Sinai Medical School, explains it this way: "It's the target organ theory, and certain people have different target organs that channel stress," he tells WebMD. "Some people get ulcers, some people get migraines, and other people get rashes as the skin is their target organ," he says (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/effects-of-stress-on-your-skin).

Make sure to keep your body and your skin in balance!

Lycopene for Lunch?

On my lunch break I was trying to decide if I should try the pasta with tomatoe and basil or the chicken alfredo. Then I remembered, Lycopene! I ended up choosing the pasta with tomatoe and basil, because tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene that neutralizes free radicals and offers a small dose of sun protection. The best way to receive the benefits of lycopene would be eating cooked tomatoes (i.e. Marinera sauce)or even applying lycopene topically. One of my favorite brands Eminence Organics of Hungary sells a Tomatoe Sun Protection SPF 16 cream that is excellent for the skin. Since lycopene is fat soluble with small molecules, if applied topically it absorbs very well into the skin to nourish it. So next time you're at the pasta station and you have to choose red or white, you know what to do!

Topic of the Week: Ethnic Skin Concerns

Asian and dark skin in particular often suffer from hyperpigmentation caused by scarring (from acne, etc.), certain medications, inflammation from skin damage and sun damage .

This past week I had a lot of clients with darker skin and hyperpigmentation issues. I was asked tons of questions on how to lighten dark spots.

Depending on the severity of your case here are my recommendations for treating hyperpigmentation:

1. Sunblock-This is a critical first step in protecting your skin and ensuring that hyperpigmentation does not worsen. A must for anyone prone to hyperpigmentation (i.e. dark sensitive skin)

2. Aveda's Embrightenment Line-Ascorbyl Glucoside (a vitamin C derivative), mulberry root, and grape extracts work together to rid dark spots. I personally have worked with these products and can tell you that nearly all clients said they seen results. Insider Tip: the toner, serum, and moisturizer have the most active ingredients, so make sure to purchase at least 2 of these items for your regimen.

2. Chemical Peels and/or Microdermabrasion-My recommendation would be to go to a medical spa or dermatologist if you want either of these treatments to be aggresive and effective. Bare in mind, skin that hyperpigments easily is already sensitive in a way but, if your skin is SUPER sensitive, these methods might not be your first choice.

3. Laser-I'd like to highlight a renowned dermatologist, Dr. Battle of Cultura Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser Center (http://www.culturamed.com/), who patented a laser and procedure called "Complexion Blending" that I've heard works wonders for ethnic skin that suffers from hyperpigmentation. I plan on scheduling a consultation to see what his skin gurus recommend and of course I'll post a review!!!

**Be sure to not over do any kind of aggresive treatment intended to treat hyperpigmentation, if you do it could lead to lightening the skin too much and result in hypopigmentation** But that's a different topic for another day:)