Beauty of a Site Blog

This week, Ada Polla, the owner of Alchimie Forever skincare, is our guest blogger! Read below for her expert tips to keeping your skin bright and nourished year-round!

While it is 60 degrees in Washington, DC today, it was in the 20s last week, and my skin is feeling it. While I love winter, my skin doesn’t. If you are like me, you might be experience excessive dryness, flakiness, discomfort, roughness, itchiness, and redness. Over the years, I have learned some useful tips to help my skin remain calm, bright, and nourished, regardless of the outdoor temperatures. I hope these help your skin too!

1. Switch to a cream-based cleanser. Every step in your skin care routine should be about moisture and nourishment, including your cleansing step. Switch away from your gel cleansers, to a nice milky, creamy cleanser (like our Alchimie Forever Excimer gentle cream cleanser, my personal favorite).
2. No matter the cold outside, avoid showers or baths that are very hot. Hot water will break down the skin’s natural lipids and leave it even dryer. Limit your bath or shower to 5 minutes, and never leave the house with wet hair (your scalp will thank you!).
3. Switch to a heavier moisturizer. Even if you are combination or oilier in the summertime, your skin needs extra nourishment during the colder months. The best-selling of our three moisturizers between November and March is always our Kantic+ intensely nourishing cream.
4. If even with a cream cleanser and a more hydrating cream your skin is still uncomfortable, dull, and dry, add in a cream moisture mask, and leave it on for as long as you can. I am applying our Kantic brightening moisture mask almost on a daily basis these days…
5. Combat the air’s dryness with a good humidifier. A low-cost alternative is to place a bowl of water in the rooms you spend most time in. As the water slowly evaporates, it will add moisture to the air.
6. Give your hands a hand! Never go out in to the cold without gloves. (And avoid wool as it is so rough or cotton, which traps moisture; my favorite gloves are in cashmere). Apply your favorite hand cream frequently, at least following every time your hands are in water. (In case you are wondering, I keep my 532nm antioxidant relief for hands and feet everywhere at home and in the office, even in my car).
7. Watch for over-exfoliation. In particular if you are experience flakiness, do not pick. Avoid strong grainy scrubs, look for nourishing, gentle, exfoliators, such as our Excimer+ gentle antioxidant refining scrub.
8. Take care of your lips. Don’t lick them, and don’t pick at them if they are chapped. Keep soothing lip balms in your purse, car, and desk drawer, and reapply as necessary (I don’t believe reapplying makes your lips get addicted to your lip balm…)
9. Don’t forget sunscreen. Even if the sun is not shining, and you are not in a bathing suit, those pesky UV rays are still attacking your skin. Remember also that sun is double strong when reflected on snow, so up your SPF before hitting the slopes.
10. Last but not least, remember beauty is internal too. Hydrate with calming teas, and eat “clean and green.” This is true year round of course, but somehow I always have an easier time drinking water and eating salads when my closet is full of dresses and short skirts…

Kick off your Labor Day sales shopping with this awesome coupon from Beauty of a Site!  Take 15% off ANYTHING in the store from today through Labor Day- Monday, September 5th! Enter the coupon code below (LABOR11) at checkout to claim your discount! Not sure what to spend it on?  With such a great discount, Labor Day Weekend is the perfect time to pamper yourself with some of our super luxurious products! 1. Choose Amika hair products for a nourishing blend of essential oils, including sea buckthorn berry oil (a favorite of Dr. Oz!) and argan oil (the main ingredient in the ever-popular Moroccan Oil range).  These replenishing products are packed into Amika's nourishing hair mask, designed to reinfuse your hair with moisture that makes it stronger and shinier - even guarding against split ends! 2. Soothe skin with Principessa's decadent Dolce Dreams Whipped Body Lotion.  Lavish and moisturizing, this shea-butter based lotion have a velvety finish sensationally silky, healthy skin.  Plus it smells delicious: top notes of peach and vanilla flower, middle notes of night blooming jasmine and ylang ylang and bottom notes of sandalwood and warm amber 3. Treat yourself AND help a great cause: Get ready for October! Support Breast Cancer Awareness month by purchasing select haircare and cosmetic  products that support great cancer research. A lot of our favorite brands donate huge amounts to these great organizations based on the products that you purchase!

With celebs like Dr. Oz lovin' on Sibu Beauty products, we've had all sorts of trouble keeping these incredible products on the shelves! Each formula includes rich nutrients and antioxidants, from real sea buckthorn berries, which assist in cellular rejuvenation, improve nervous system function, boost energy, improve skin complexion (yes, especially acne!) and provide your body with a rich source of Omega 3, 6, 7 and 9. The most convenient (and most popular!) product that Sibu offers is the Cellular Support Antioxidant & Omega 7 Complex, a simple, safe dietary supplement which boasts all of the benefits of sea buckthorn berries, while even promoting healthy hair and nail growth. Totally preservative, gluten and dairy free, this supplement helps you feel, look and even think better, with one simple pill. We call that a winner! We only have a few left in stock, so order yours RIGHT AWAY! Click here to do so!

With your vacation planned, your clothes picked out and a beach in Hawaii awaiting your arrival, only one obstacle remains: packing.  Like all of us, you just don't know how you're going to get everything you need for your trip in one suitcase.  Especially with airline regulations about number of bags, size of bags and size of toiletries, packing is truly becoming an art! Because you want to look good on your vacation, investing in quality toiletries in airline and travel ready sizes is essential.  The week that you plan on taking two hundred pictures is NOT the week to be depending upon some hotel travel shampoo, nor is it the week to pack less clothes just to fit in your full-sized salon products. So, to help a sista out, here are a couple of excellent travel sets to make your travel plans WAY easier: For Your Hair: The Blow to Go Travel Kit.  Including four products specifically designed for heat styling, of the highest salon quality, this convenient kit is packaged in 2 oz airplane ready bottles, even packed in a small, clear plastic bag.  Did we mention how CUTE this thing is!? ($28) For Your Skin: Juara Glow on the Go Travel Kit. Also in travel sizes (all under 2 oz), and packaged in a clear plastic bag, the Glow to Go Kit addresses all of your toiletry needs, including facial cleanser, facial mask, hydrating toner, moisturizer and body balm.  In lovely packaging and suitcase-friendly sizes.($36) Cosmetics: Bella Il Fiore Face Palettes.  MakeUp doesn't travel well, but vacation is not the time to be skimping on quality cosmetics.  Take care of the space and travel issues with a multi-use color palette, including beautiful colors and a range of texture and formulas to accommodate eyes, lips and cheeks in one small palette.  Beautifully packaged and expertly coordinated. ($20)

So here we are, the week after Memorial Day, enjoying the first warm days of summer (at least that's what's happening here in the Midwest!).  We all flocked to the lake or to barbecues on Monday, stayed out all day, and now are suffering from our very first sunburn of the summer.  Here's a refresher on sun care for your skin and hair during the summer months ahead: 1.  PREVENTION:  As your mother and health professionals everywhere can tell you, the best way to care for a sunburn is to prevent it from happening in the first place.  Especially with the prevalence of skin cancer among our generation, we must be careful to protect ourselves from the damaging sun.  Here are some of our favorite protective sun products: Coola (SPF 45) is one of our favorite classic sunscreens, providing powerful protection, custom made for those leading an active outdoor life.  Endorsed by the American Lifeguard Association, this sweat-proof formula is the best we've got! If you're looking for a mineral alternative to classic sunscreen, Alba Botanica's Natural Mineral Sunscreen (SPF 30) uses a chemical-free formula that provides excellent protection from the sun without compromise. Orly's Sunscreen for Nails is a must-have.  As you beach-babes know, after long hours in the sun, your manicure can become discolored and faded.  Sunscreen for Nails is a high-shine topcoat that protects the colors beneath it with its UV absorbent formula. Rene Furterer's Protective Summer Oil (KPF 90) uses sesame and castor oils with UV sunscreen to ensure protection for exposed hair while swimming and sunbathing.  It's waterproof formula is a must for any beach bag. 2.  TREATMENT:  We know that there will be days that we didn't plan ahead and didn't apply the sunscreen as much as we should have.  Here are some treatments to refresh skin and hair after long hours in the sun: The absolute best in the business, Hempz After Sun Gel soothes heat and pain from sun-burnt skin, prevents peeling and uses the nurturing qualities of hemp seed oil and tea tree oil to start repairing skin damage and even minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles! Bed Head Some Like It Hot Heat & Humidity Resistant Serum is not only treatment oriented, but also for prevention.  It, along with the Some Like it Hot Shampoo and Conditioner provide a shield to help hair that will be in the sun and water constantly.  This product in particular, though, is essential after sun, taming frizz and re-moisturizing burnt-out hair. Rene Furterer Repairing After Sun Shampoo is specifically designed to combat the drying effects of sun, salt water and even chlorine, enriched with palm butter to restore shine and softness to your hair! Awesome. So, enjoy the sun, ladies, but care for yourself while you're doing it! Check out these products and more at www.beautyofasite.com to help you enjoy the summer in style!

With Easter just days away, its time to snatch up some great gifts to stuff those baskets! The perfect gifts are fun but useful, small but precious and not always covered in chocolate.  Move aside Peeps; here are some of the most sought after easter basket stuffers:

	OPI Mini Nail Lacquer collections are an adorable addition to any basket. Including 4 1/8 oz bottles, these collections are both affordable and fun! Choose from OPI Femme de Cirque, OPI lil' Shooters (Texas Collection) and OPI Swiss Collection minis.
	An affordable luxury, high quality lip balm brightens any basket. Useful for anyone, packaged beautifully and intensely moisturizing, Balsamo Italian Argan Oil Lip Balms deeply nourish lips in three delectable flavors.
	A Beauty of a Site favorite, Leila Lou Perfume Oil, by Rosie Jane, is a light and airy spring fragrance. In a precious little bottle (that's so affordable!), this beautiful oil will be cherished by any woman who receives it.
	New from Kala style, these fun Statement Soaps make for great gifts, and say something, too! With words like "Faith," "Hope," "Joy," and even funnier phrases like, "Save Water... Shower with a Friend," these bright, high quality suds are perfect basket stuffers!

Here's to a happy spring holiday to all of our customers!

Just like a piece of chocolate cake after a long day, a surprise cupcake with your lunch, or even a delicious bit of cheesecake after a delicious dinner out, treating yourself to a little pampering is good for the soul. Cake Beauty is all about that - helping you partake in affordable, everyday indulgence.  Like a little slice heavenly cheesecake or a fudge swamped browny, Cake products help you take care of you, in a way that's fun! This month, we're celebrating Cake Beauty by offering a free full sized hand cream (in assorted fragrances) with any $35 Cake Beauty purchase.  Whether with a scrub and pedicure, super moisturizing lotion, or even a deliciously scented bath, help yourself unwind with a little sass and a lot of fun. Like a guiltless but delicious low fat dessert, Cake Beauty products are amazingly healthy for your skin! Each formula is 100% paraben free and composed of 90-95% natural ingredients, of the highest quality. Click here to learn more!

Delightfully elegant, ultra-light and extremely hydrating, Cuccio Naturale Lyte Ultra-Sheer Body Butter is a regenerating moisturizer that deeply nourishes dry skin.  However, Cuccio's newest body butter is set apart from all the others by its rejuvenating power: it's designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your hands and feet.  Perfect for a routine manicure, continued use of Cuccio's Ultra-Sheer Body Butter formula will totally help your skin appear more vibrant, youthful and featuring a healthy glow.  Check out each fragrance and its specific benefits below:

Honey and Soy Milk: Honey's natural humectants gently soften and condition the skin while soy lipids deliver Vitamin E to regenerate damaged skin cells and tissue.

Guava and Mangosteen: A revitalizing and healing anti-oxidant and vitamin combination. Renews and deeply hydrates for soft, smooth and silky skin.

Pomegranate and Acai: The most potent blend of anti-oxidants in one ultra sheer body butter! Reduces fine lines and wrinkles, promoting healthier and younger looking skin.

Tuscan Citrus and White Tea: Boost and brighten your skin tone with the blend of white tea and Tuscan citrus. White tea contains polyphenols to help increase the skin’s elasticity.

Unsightly, persistent and downright annoying, blackheads are a serious killjoy.  Blackheads are just like any other pimples, except that they form in wide open pores and remain uncovered.  Touching the air turns the pimples black, and helps them pop out for the world to see.  So starting right now, we make it stop.  Here are six quick steps to help you stay blackhead free! 1. CLEANSE:  Keep your skin clean!  Choose an acne cleanser with either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to fight oily build-ups.  A routine is key- don't let the grime creep up on you!  We suggest something like Dermastage's Acne Cleanser. 2. TONE:  Choose an alcohol-free facial toner to balance the ph-level of your skin.  Toners are designed to keep your skin healthy, allowing for ultimate moisture absorption and shrinking pores.  We suggest Alba Botanica's Sea Kelp Facial Toner, full of certified organic and extremely powerful ingredients.  Perfect! 3. SPOT TREAT: When and if pimples sneak through your defense, treat them right away! Choose an acne gel or acid treatment very much like Dermastage's Acne Relief Gel to dry up the pimple as quickly as possible! 4.  MOISTURIZE: The key to avoiding blackheads taking over your face is constant exfoliation.  To offset this scrubbing, however, healthy skin needs moisture to keep proper levels of elasticity.  Moisturizing before exfoliating is key.  Exfoliating opens up pores and clears them out, and even though moisturizer is excellent for your face, leaving pores clear after exfoliating is a much better idea.  So let your face soak up some moisture before you scrub! Try a super energizing moisturizer like Cor Silver's Anytime Moisturizer. 5. EXFOLIATE: At least twice a week, scrub your skin and exfoliate dead skin cells.  Especially during the dry season, dead skin cells build up on the surface of your face and create blockages.  Keep your pores clear and open with a simple scrub, like Juara's Rice Facial Scrub. 6. MASK:  Once a week, polish off your skincare routine with a clarifying mask that not only removes built up deposits but also includes a chemical exfoliant to eat up tough-to-clear build up.  Our new favorite mask is The Holy Mud Company's Pumpkin Glycolic Mask. Work these steps into your routine and watch black heads disappear!

Every year, Beauty of a Site sends gifts to hundreds of happy friends, spouses, fiances, girlfriends and family members across the world to celebrate Valentine's Day.  We've found that the unique products we have to offer are perfect for this thoughtful holiday.  To help you find the perfect gift for the loved one in your life, we've put together a page featuring our best selling Valentine's Day merchandise from the last several years to give you a great place to start.  Click here to visit our Valentine's Day Store! Some of our favorite products from over at the store are included for you here: 1.  Organic Bath Company Bubble Bath Roses.  These simple, inexpensive but teasingly romantic bath bombs are perfect for more casual relationships, friends, or even small gifts for family.  At an affordable $11, you can give someone you love a dozen roses that when added to warm water will fizz and create a moisturizing, relaxing bathing experience. One of our top sellers! 2. Kama Sutra Gift Sets. For new couples or seasoned lovers, the Kama Sutra Gift Sets include a range of products to produce a sensual, romantic experience.  Choose from a variety of flavors and price ranges to set the mood for your Valentine's Day! 3. Serendipity 3 Serendipitous Perfume. Thoughtful, classic and delicious, the Serendipitous Perfume is a wonderful gift for any woman on your list.  A fragrance of vanilla, cocoa, amber and citrus, this passionately addictive and alluring perfume is classic while being mysterious- and easy on the pocketbook!  An affordable $35 for a timeless, romantic gift. Browse these gifts and more at our Valentine's Day store! Click here. [caption id="attachment_700" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Organic Bath Company Bubble Bath Roses"][/caption]

Infused with argan oil, macadamia goodness and nature's most nourishing botanicals, Macadamia Natural Oil products are everything we've ever hoped for. Extremely nourishing for hair that dry or damaged (or even normal hair that's had a rough week), Macadamia's healing formula tames frizz, increases shine, moisturizes, detangles, manages and calms- everything you need to get that perfect runway sheen. One of our favorite things about the Macadamia products is how stinking adorably they are packaged.  Who doesn't love grabbing a bottle out of the shower with that's as spunky and beautiful as what's inside?  And these products smell AMAZING.  With hints of the macadamia nuttiness and the warm fragrances of argan oil from Morocco, these essential oil-packed products make any shower feel way luxurious.  And that's how we like it. Shop all Macadamia products here!

New for Fall 2009, Beauty of a Site announced our more recent product addition: IKove by Florestas.  This range of haircare, skincare and bath & body products is completely organic and natural, using a botanical base full of oils and extracts from the forests of the Amazon. We have to label IKove products as some of the most guilt free beauty products we've ever seen.  A socially responsible company, IKove is dedicated to growing the economy of the Amazon, allowing local villages to stop cutting down trees and protect the region's beautiful and rare rainforests.  The company uses certified organic ingredients, avoids synthetics and potentially harmful chemicals, while also avoiding any animal ingredients. IKove also strives to use as many certified fair trade ingredients as possible. The lush and luxurious ingredients in the IKove products are what truly set them apart as unique- as must-haves!  Acai Berry is one of IKove's favorite ingredients, an Amazonian palm berry harvested from the forests of Brazil.  Totally PACKED with antioxidants, fatty acids & omegas, Acai Berry is truly a miracle fruit, fighting premature aging and encouraging healthy skin. We're totally excited about these new products and hope that you are too!  If you've tried, please let us know what you think!  You can see all of the IKove products here.