Beauty of a Site Blog

It's hard to believe that October is almost over. Once we roll into November, we all have one thing on our minds - the holidays! What do I get my Aunt Sally? What about Grandma Jean? Well, we know we say this all the time, but we really LOVE Aunt Sadie's candles.  Here's a little background: Sadie's nephews took her tried and true recipes, quit their jobs and started making candles. They are independently owned and have their little business in Boston. They make all the candles themselves and then they ship them to us. All the candles are hand-poured and smell ah-mazing! They're all wrapped in super-cute paper that completely match the scent of the candle. What's even better is that they burn for about 70 hours, so one candle will last for a while. Some of our favorite scents for the Fall and Winter are: Cranberry Orange, Pumpkin Pie, Pine Tree

Manicures are a treat that most girls don't want to give up. They're relaxing and usually last longer than doing your nails at home.  Let's face it though, times are tough and manicures have become a luxury that most of us can only splurge on a couple of times per year. So, why not just treat yourself to a mani at home? Here's how: 1. Start out with two dishes of warm, soapy water to soak your hands in. Soak for 2-3 minutes. 2. Pat your hands dry with a towel.  Use Essie's Cuticle Pen to soften your cuticles and prepare them for removal or to be pushed back. At this point if you usually clip your cuticles go ahead and do that, if you'd rather not, then just push them back. 3. Now it's time to exfoliate your hands. Use a nice scrub like One Minute Manicure Spa Treatment where a little goes a long way. Or, if your budget is a little tighter, try Qtica Smart Spa Sugar Scrub. 4. Now it's time to file. Use your favorite nail file, or if you don't have one you can get one here. Shape your nails however you're comfortable, but the "it" shape right now is the Squoval. Square your nails at the top but curve them a bit at the sides to get this hip new shape. 5.  Give your hands a little massage using CND's Scentsations Hand and Body Lotion. When you're done, wash your hands thoroughly. Use a brush to scrub any excess debris off your nails. 6. Start your mani with a ridge filling base coat like Essie's Fill the Gap Ridge Smoothing Base Coat or Zoya's Get Even Ridge Filling Base Coat. Next, paint on two coats of your favorite color. Use Essie's Corrector Pen to fix any spots where you may have gotten polish on your finger. Finally, use Zoya's Armor Top Coat to lock in your color.  If you're in a hurry you can use a rapid-dry spray like CND's Solar Speed Spray. Will you be trying this trick at home? Do you have any tips? Leave us a comment!

Get Fresh has brought back it's oh-so-popular Blackberry Vanilla Scent in the form of the Warrior Princess line! We're super excited about this here at BOAS because it's definitely one of our favorite scents. What's even better is that the packaging is ultra-girlie, vibrant and just plain pretty. Plus, the Warrior Princess line was designed to give back. Get Fresh is donating a portion of the Warrior Princess proceeds to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a wonderful charitable organization that helps our women and men in the military recover from the physical and psychological injuries they sustained while in uniform. So, when you order some fabulous products you're also helping out the men and women who defend our country. It's a win-win situation! Want other ways to be charitable while you shop? Check out our Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Products!

One thing that we love about October here at Beauty of a Site is the fact that everywhere you turn you are greeted by pink. Even the football players wear pink gloves and cleats! It's a chance to get all of your favorite products in pretty pink shades. What's even better than all the pink? The fact that proceeds from these limited edition products goes to Breast Cancer Research.  Shopping to help save a life. We'd say that's a win-win situation. Here are a few of the many limited edition Pink products that we have in stock: Essie Raise Awareness Polish - This soft pink shade will go with anything in your closet. It's feminine and flirty all at the same time. Pedi-Sox Pinky Pink - Since it's starting to get a bit chilly out these days, why not take some Pink pedi-sox with you when you get your toes painted with Essie's Raise Awareness? Tigi Bed Head Epic Cares Duo - Get your va-va-voom locks with this Volume Shampoo and Conditioner Duo. Tigi Bed Head Hard Head Hairspray - Hold the volume that the Epic Cares Duo gave your tresses with this strong hold hairspray. It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner - We all know that the cooler months leave our hair just a bit more dry. Try this leave-in conditioner to add some shine to your hair too. There you have it, just a few of our favorite products to help fund Breast Cancer Research. Click here to browse our full inventory.

We all know Kate Winslet.  She touched all of our hearts in Titanic whens she told Jack that she'd never let go, and made us scratch our heads in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. We know Kate as the glamorous movie star that she is. Now Ms. Winslet can add television Emmy winner to her resume. Playing the lead and title role in HBO's mini-series Mildred Pearce, Kate portrayed her character's many life battles with grace and believability. So what did Kate wear to receive her first Emmy Award? A fabulous red gown, diamond earrings and bracelet and some fierce hair and make-up. Kate always looks classy on the red carpet, but she definitely upped the ante this year. There were a lot of red dresses on the red carpet this weekend, but Kate's smokey eyes and nude lips made her stand out. So how did Kate get her make-up so perfect? Well, we're not her make-up artist so we don't know exactly, but here's how YOU can get a look just like hers for your next night out. Start out with your favorite foundation all over, even on your lids. For the eyes: Use the Tigi High Density Eye Shadow Quad in Love Affair using the lightest color as a highlighter under your brow. The shimmer brown color should go on your lid up to your crease.  Don't forget to apply this color along your lower lashes too! Then take the darkest brown and gently blend that in a "V" shape at the outer corner of your eye. Blend the colors until you have your desired look adding in some of the highlighter if needed. Now, use Tigi Perfect Eyeliner in brown and line both your top and bottom lash lines. Smudge this a little to increase the smokey feel. Finally, apply some Blinc Mascara in Black to both your top and lower lashes. If you're going for a more subtle look just use you favorite eye lash curler and you're done.  If you're going for a little more drama, put on some Ardell Fashion Lashes for a "wow" effect. For your lips and face: Dab on some DuWop Blushbooster in Watermelon. Then line your lips using Tigi Perfect Lip liner in Nude. Finally, apply Tigi Decadent Lipstick in either Faith or Peace depending on your skin tone.  Make sure to blot your lipstick and re-apply as needed! *Be paparazzi ready by putting a little vaseline on your teeth before applying your lipstick. This will prevent the awful fashion faux pas of lipstick on the teeth and will also make your smile that much brighter*

A new season, a new look!  Here in the Midwest we had our first week of Fall weather.  Along with our sweaters and boots, we pulled out some new looks for the season.  Here are some looks we're seeing on the runways! Smoky eyes get revamped for Fall 2011! Choose burnt oranges, deep blues, turquoise hues and plums for an unexpected splash of color. Apply above and below eyes for a dramatic and beautiful look! We suggest Tigi High Density Eyeshadow Singles for beautiful and high quality shades. While pretty pink blushes were the craze over the summer, Fall is all about a clear, fresh, dewy face.  Choose a light foundation, powder and more importantly, a fresh-looking mineral tint.  These tints bring out your skin's natural glow while covering minor imperfections. We suggest Tigi's Mineral Glow in Natural Glow. Switch up your look with thick, bold eyebrows.  Use a brow defining pencil for additional shaping, but fill and expand using a brow sculpting kit.  We suggest the Tigi Brow Sculpting Duo.  Choose either Brunette or Blonde colors of wax and powder to shape and thicken to your heart's content!  

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!

Hot summer days mean ladies everywhere are baring {almost} all.  Here are some tips for keeping you confident and beautiful all summer long. 1. Shaving Shaving is a necessary evil (for those of us not quite ready for laser hair removal), but it can be rough on your skin.  Shaving everyday in the right way, however, keeps you looking great.

• Best time to shave is at the end of a warm shower, when the skin plumps and exposes more of the hair follicle.  Not only is more hair exposed for trimming, but also softens hair and to keep it from snapping, which helps prevent ingrown hairs. The same daily shaving routine is actually more effective, and easier on your legs.
• Shaving is much more ideal for legs than for bikini line, because of how aggravating it can be for skin. No matter where you're shaving, though, keep a bottle of of Tend Skin handy to avoid bumps.

2. Waxing Especially during swimsuit season, waxing your bikini line is essential. Want to avoid the invasive nature of getting a wax in a salon? Follow these tips and do it at home!

• Just let me get this out: DON'T shave your bikini line. You'll be tempted to, but this easily irritated area can't take that kind of abuse.
• Make sure you're not waxing more than once a month, and you're letting the area breathe after doing so.  Your skin needs refreshing to avoid the sort of irritation that causes bumps and ingrown hairs.
• The perfect at-home waxing kit makes the brazilian process quick, painless (ok, not completely painless) and incredibly private. Try an easy microwavable product like Gigi, whose affordable kits help you get the body you want in the convenience of your home.

Sultry, mysterious and incredibly sexy, the 12 new colors introduced by Zoya for the Summer are breathtaking.  Zoya's Smoke and Mirrors collections offer rich hues with grey undertones from a jewel-toned palette.  The Smoke Collection includes six creams, while the Mirrors collection features shimmering metallics. Beautiful and flattering, each hue has been hand-crafted by Zoya to look great against a variety of skin tones and pop against the trendiest colors of the season.  Buy your collection today!  Click here to start shopping!

Alright, Moody Judy.  We've got the perfect makeup palette for you. Like to switch up your look depending on your mood? A nice cool set of hues for night, and a warm comforting palette for a natural, glowing complexion, this palette provides the best of both worlds.  Packed with high quality eye color, cheek color, lip color, lip liner and lip venom, the DuWop Moodswing Palette has all the colors you need in one beautiful package. The Palette includes two of DuWop's popular, unique products: Reverse Lipliner: Invisible lip pencil that helps you flawlessly shape your lips without the harsh edges of a colored lip liner.  Using Kombuchta, a miracle ingredient that causes "lipofilling", the Reverse Lipliner pencil can actually restore volume to the skin in areas where volume is needed, including fine lines around your lips. Lip Venom: DuWop Lip Venom is the very first, original lip plumper. Tingly on application, DuWop lip venom results in sexy bee stung lips, causing blood to rush to the surface and flush lips perfectly.  Lip Venom also includes jojoba & avocado oil to add moisture and shine, giving you the perfectly natural rosy look that is one of kind. Click here to purchase the DuWop Moodswing Palette, on sale for the month of July! Usually $42.00, purchase the palette for only $28.00!!

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!

Beat the heat and humidity with these super-easy, breezy and humidity-proof styles for summer! 1. Loose Braid:  Not an excellent braider? Good news! Messy and loose is totally the style, to keep the romance while keeping your hair out of your face! For a little extra texture and a bit of hold, to keep your braid in one piece, spritz a bit of It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Product in your hair before you style. 2. Messy Bun + Headband: Add a twist to the classic bun with a simple headband. The addition of color makes the style look on-purpose, and add dimension and attention!  Make sure and give your style a little height behind the headband for maximum impact. For the extra boost of volume that will really help you pull off this style, try using Tigi Catwalk Your Highness Root Booster. 3.  Side-swept Pony: As with braiding above, side-sweeping your style makes a boring ponytail a sexy fun summer style.  Style with texturized, beach-style waves, great volume and maybe even a bit of a french braid. Get the right texture and perfect wave with a beach texturizer like Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist Texturizing Spray.