September Specials and Happenings

Posted by Bella B. in 07. Sep, 2010, under Uncategorized

A new month means new specials! Starting September 5th and going through September 25th, the following items will be Buy 2, Get 1 Free:

-Essie Nail Polish

-A/G

-CHI Styling Products

-Biosilk

-Osis

-Redken

-Sebastian

-SEXY Hair

-Alterna

-Crew

-TIGI Men

In addition to some sweet specials, we are excited to announce our September in-store events featuring Jane Iredale Cosmetics. Jennifer Owen from Jane Iredale Cosmetics will be on hand to introduce the new Eye Stepps, Lip Fixatons, Pheonix, and Bitty Brows. Come by to get a hands-on makeup tutorial and learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the benefits of mineral makeup. These events fill up fast, so call the store to make an appointment!

New Lip Fixation Lip Gloss

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

10:00am – 1:00pm: Brodie Oaks (444-4414)

2:00pm – 5:00pm: Westbank Market (329-9876)

Friday, September 24th, 2010

9:00am – 12:00pm: Central Market (458-4444)

1:00pm – 4:00pm: Braker Lane (733-8333)

Keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook and our site to stay up-to-date on our specials and events. Keep Austin Beautiful!

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Product Spotlight- Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup

Posted by Bella B. in 03. Sep, 2010, under Uncategorized

There are many great things about The Beauty Store- convenient locations, friendly and knowledgeable staff,  love for the locals, awesome discounts and promotions….I could go on and on. However, one thing that stands out is the selection. In each and every store, there is a wide variety of products for all of your beauty wants and needs. We’d like to take some time to spotlight some of our products so our customer can learn more about the options that are available to them. Today, let’s talk about Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup.

While most makeup-wearers are familiar with mineral makeup, not make know that Jane Iredale was one of the first to create these type of products. Pulling from her background in TV/Film/Theatre, Jane created a makeup line that enhanced natural beauty instead of masking it. She began her line in 1994 and aimed to not just enhance natural beauty but aid in keeping skin healthy and clear. Jane’s line includes all of your makeup needs- foundation, concealer, eye makeup, mascara, blush, bronzer and even lip color.

The Beauty Store is proud to carry Jane Iredale’s amazing line of mineral makeup. Stop by one of our four locations to check out and try Jane Iredale’s Mineral Makeup. Our employees are ready and waiting to help you find the perfect color just for you!

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Hello and Welcome to The Beauty Store!

Posted by Bella B. in 03. Sep, 2010, under Uncategorized

One of the best things about Austin is the community support for local businesses. We not only love to patronize our home-grown companies, but we will actually go out of our way to support them! There are lots of local boutiques, vintage stores, and consignment shops to purchase your clothing, accessories and shoes. There are even local hat designers, grocery co-ops and restaurants to check out. But where are you to go for your beauty products?

Look no further than The Beauty Store Salon and Spa! Started in 1988 here in Austin, The Beauty Store has since grown to four Austin locations and continues to add new products all the time. No longer is it the place to get hair care only. Now you can get hair care and styling products and tools, nail care, skin care, make up, and even lovely and unique gifts.
Sebastian ShaperThe Beauty Store is always running new promotions on products you use regularly. Right now, Buy1, Get 1 Free on brands such as Wella Color Preserve, TIGI’s Moisture Maniac, Self-Absorbed, Dumb Blonde and Control Freak, Graham Webb, Halo, Back 2 Basics, Hempz Hair Care, and ISO. In addition to that, you can also get Sebastian Shaper and Shaper+ for Buy 1, Get 1 Half Off!

Check back with us on this blog, our site or on Twitter or Facebook to find out about new specials and fun fashion stuff happening in Austin!

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Don’t miss a deal

Posted by Bella B. in 01. Mar, 2010, under Uncategorized

Just wanted to post quickly about the Beauty Store’s email list- if you aren’t already signed up, you can do so at our website, http://austinbeautystore.com/. You’ll get deals once every week or so that are only available to email members, including print-out coupons and limited-time sales. We won’t hassle you with lots of spam, but we do want you to know when you can save money on the products you already buy. Sneak peek of what’s happening this week below.

 

For a limited time, enjoy buy two, get two free deals on these professional haircare products:

Matrix
Biolage
Matrix Essentials
Amplify
Vavoom
Sleek.look
Logics
Nioxin
TIGI
Sexy Hair

The Beauty Store Salon and Spa: Keeping Austin beautiful since 1988.

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Up, up and away! Big hair is sexy

Posted by Bella B. in 20. Feb, 2010, under Beauty Products, Haircare

I know those ladies that go to their stylist every week for a blow-out. They always have voluminous, perfectly coiffed ‘dos -but it seems like a lot of time out of the week to me, who can barely fit in grocery shopping some days- I’m always wondering “Where did my day go?” So I want a great volumizing shampoo and conditioner to give me the volume without the trip to the salon…only many of the ones I’ve tried don’t really do all they’ve promised, or else they leave my hair feeling stiff.

Sebastian recently launched their Volupt line, which is based on the concept that you can add volume at the same time you’re adding softness- I think this is a breakthrough in the beauty world!

The foundation for big sexy hair

The foundation for big sexy hair

The shampoo and conditioner can be used daily, and won’t drag your hair down or add weight. The Volupt spray isn’t sticky,  and you can spray it all over without worrying about a greasy or product-heavy look. Guess what- it really works! I have a full, thick head of hair but it’s very fine and soft, so if I don’t use rollers it flattens to my head. And during humid summers- forget it. I can’t wait to see if Volupt works in July and Texas as well as it does in January…remains to be seen. For now, I’m enjoying my big Texas hair for once.

Come into the Beauty Store and try it for yourself, or ask your salon to use it the next time you go on, wherever you get your hair done. Always try before you buy I always say. Volupt definitely equals more sexy volume for me- I’d love to hear your thoughts if you do try it.

-Ta-ta for now!

Bella

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In search of the perfect tan- anticipate summer!

Posted by Bella B. in 09. Feb, 2010, under Beauty Products

I know it’s still cold outside, but after this strange actual winter that Texas has had, I can’t help but look forward to lake days (with an actual, full Lake Travis!), summer music festivals, and being outdoors. In preparation, I’m going to get a killer tan this year without going to the tanning booth. I’m making a vow to take better care of my skin, mostly because I don’t want to look like this in a few years…

wrinkles-beach

 

So I’ve been talking to my “tanning professional,” or my friend who always has that sunkissed glow about her, and she’s telling me that sunless tanners have progressed far beyond the streaky orange days that I remember from trying bottled tans in high school. That fake tan never looked natural, but I have been trying my friend’s recommendation- St. Tropez sunless tanner.

No smell!

I’ve been using it for a month ( I was prepping for summer during our coldest spells!) and I seriously look like I just came back from spring break on the beach. Another problem I’ve had with sunless tanners, the weird chemical smell, is also not a problem with St. Tropez.

After some trial and error, I’ve come up with my top 5 tips for using sunless tanner:

1. Exfoliate!! No, really, make an effort to totally exfoliate your body at least once a week. When the layers of tanner start to build up, it can look blotchy or mottled if you aren’t exfoliating those dead layers of skin. (I know, yuck.)

2.  Just after application, don’t don tight-fitting clothing. Better yet, walk around sans clothing at home for a while, giving your tan plenty of time to dry and set. If you get dressed too quickly you may stain your clothing and mess up the tan.

3.  Take the time to cover your ENTIRE body. It’s ok to go over areas again, but leaving spots of skin without the tanner will definitely leave spots on your skin.

4. Moisturize! Dry flaky skin looks awful by itself- combine that with your tan flaking off and it’s doubly awful. Moisturize daily to keep your skin in top condition.Your tan will last much longer.

5. Wash your hands immediately after applying tanner. You don’t want odd-colored orangey palms.

And girls, we all know this by now, but please wear sunscreen. I have several family members who have battled skin cancer, and it’s silly because it can definitely be avoided. It feels great to lay out in the sun, and you can still do it SAFELY if you just take a few extra seconds to slather on a little sunscreen ( at least 15 spf!)

CURRENT BEAUTY STORE PROMOTION

Buy two, get two free! Joico, L’Oreal Professional, ARTec, ISO

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V-Day approaches!

Posted by Bella B. in 28. Jan, 2010, under Beauty Products, Gifts, Nails, Pedicure

Photo courtesy Sister72

Photo courtesy Sister72

 

Ah, no holiday is quite like Valentine’s Day. It’s equal parts courtly and commercial these days, with roots as far back as the Middle Ages. An equal number of woman dread its approach as those who look forward to it- mostly haunted by past experiences…see here, and here for great examples of what I’m talking about. I have my share of those stories, and it’s no wonder, with all the pressure this holiday creates. A whole day during which we’re supposed to make our sweetie know he/she is loved, and during which EVERYONE ELSE is also doing the exact same thing! All the nice restaurants are booked, all the candy hearts are sold out, and we all spend a lot of money that may or may not be what our lover wants or appreciates. Well, I’ve come up with a solution to the pressure.

It’s simple, and I’m not the only one using the technique. HELLO COMMUNICATION!! Things don’t have to be a total surprise, how about you have a dialogue before V-Day arrives about what each of you expect? You could mention that stuffed animals creep you out…and he could let you know that if you want lingerie, he’ll need to know your size. I know, I know, it all just sounds so easy. But it works. Now in the weeks preceding Valentine’s Day, I’ll leave hints around the house- such as circled items in catalogs! If we’re not doing gifts one year, my man and I discuss this and instead talk about restaurants that we’d like to go to, and then we get reservations ahead of time.  Surprises can be great, too, but especially if you’re just starting out in a relationship- you can still talk about things you do and do not enjoy doing! Afraid of horses- make sure there are no carriage rides planned.

And as for gifts, I now get something I really want or enjoy every year, instead of misguided but sweet gifts that I’ll never use. I’ve been hinting around for one of my favorite things to receive- a foot massage! I’m even going to give myself a pedicure in preparation…the Beauty Store carries a great line called All About Feet, and they have some kits like the Cracked Heel Treatment Kit and the Spa Pedicure Kit that have everything you need to make your feet happy. Their products use peppermint oil, which cools and soothes aching feet and also smells wonderful. Like a candy cane!

allaboutfeet-cracked-heelallaboutfeet-spa-pedicure

Of course, no pedicure is complete without a new coat of pretty polish. I’ve been Tweeting about OPI’s Alice in Wonderland-inspired collection, tying in with Disney/Tim Burton’s movie which is coming out in March. Fantastically bright and sparkly, as to be expected…the sparkly blue/gold glitter (my favorite from the collection!) is Absolutely Alice, Thanks So Muchness is a berry red with metallic shimmer, Mad as a Hatter is glitter with all sorts of colors, like confetti, and Off With Her Red! is creamy red. Go try out Absolutely Alice- it’s so much prettier in person- the promo doesn’t show it off well.

opi alice

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How-tos for your face

Posted by Bella B. in 20. Jan, 2010, under Makeup how-tos

dynamite-imagery

I don’t know anyone who has flawless skin. If I did, I probably wouldn’t be able to be friends with them because I’d be terribly jealous. Kidding- but really, we all have bad skin days and that’s why MAKEUP was invented! You can look flawless all the time regardless of whether your skin is playing nice or not.

Foundation, concealer and powder are your tools in pulling off this trick, but you have to know how to apply them correctly and also how to pick the right colors for your skin- cuz there are so many different and beautiful shades of skin tones!

#1- Face makeup type.  If you have normal skin without major skin issues, you might only need to pick up a tinted moisturizer. Money-saving suggestion- pick up a liquid foundatio in your color, and mix a small amount of it in your palm with your normal moisturizer. Voila!- tinted moisturizer. If you’d like a little more coverage, a liquid foundation might work better. Cream foundation is great if your skin is dry and you need extra moisture, and a powder foundation is good for oily skin and to help disguise wrinkles.

#2- Pick your tone.  Some people say to test your makeup on the inside of your wrist, but I advise against that because many of our wrists do not match our faces! Try makeup out ON your face or neck to best match the color. Choose a color closest to your natural skin tone for the most natural results.

#3-Concealer is your friend! This little magic trick comes in different forms- sticks, tubes, or compacts. Choose a concealer a shade or two lighter than your skin and blend it in to conceal pimples, discolorations, undereye circles- really any type of blemish. I always put my concealer on OVER my foundation, it blends better and I have more control over where it goes. Sometimes I will dab foundation and then powder over a hard-to-hide blemish, but take care not to cake it on because that might be worse than actually seeing the blemish…

#4-Application. Foundation is easily applied with makeup sponges or with your clean fingers, whatever works best for you. Concealer should be applied in small dots and then blended in. Powder is the finishing touch and should be applied with a makeup brush or powder puff.

Always make sure your skin is clean and moisturized before applying makeup. If you skip this step, you will be more prone to breakouts, oily skin will be more oily, and dry skin will be flaky.

Follow these suggestions and your skin should be picture-perfect!

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The unmentionable suject around my house…

Posted by Bella B. in 08. Jan, 2010, under Beauty Products, Haircare, Nails, Products for men

Ok. So my guy is balding. I just need to get that out there and say it right off the bat. Now that I have said it out loud to myself and the world, I have to say I feel loads better. It’s a subject we don’t mention at my house, because he’s a little touchy about the subject. A few years ago it was a joke, like “Hey I bet I’ll end up with a shinier dome than my Dad’s, hope you don’t mind sweetie!” Now, when there’s no way to deny the fact that he will eventually have a shiny dome just like his Pops, it’s no longer funny to him.

I feel bad for guys. Imagine losing your hair as another sign of aging, to add to the wrinkles and tolls of gravity! I know a few girls who are also facing thinning hair, and those friends are pretty desperate to find something that will help them mask the fact or slow down the hair loss. I’d seen a few late-night commercials for weird products that promise add body and “natural-looking” results, but never considered that they might actually work.

So when I came across XFusion, I became curious enough to brave my guy’s embarassment. We took a trip to Las Vegas this past summer, and I thought it might be the perfect time to bring it up- after a few drinks, when we were dressing up to head out for the night. Because there was NO WAY I was going to get before and after pics, let me set up the scene.

My guy, name protected per request, is happily a little more David Beckham

beckham-balding

 

than Prince William.

prince-william-balding

He’s young, he’s great-looking, and he wears a ball cap most of the time these days so he doesn’t have to think about his bald patch.

“So, sweetie,” I say. “You know how I’m always trying out new beauty products. And a trip is always a good time to try out a new look, right? Around strangers who will never see you again.”

“Absolutely, babe. I love that you’re adventurous. Are you wearing a wig or something tonight?” He sounds interested in this idea.

“Well actually…I was hoping YOU would try out this product for me.”

This is when things get serious.

“I’m not wearing makeup,” he says. “No way.”

So at that point I just pulled out the bottle of XFusion and explained. It sounds odd, but the product is made of tiny organic keratin fibers, the same stuff that human hair is made of. You just shake the bottle over balding areas, and the fibers fuse to your real hair and makes it look thicker as well as lessening scalp show-through.

I have to hand it to him, he took it in stride, didn’t get upset, and actually allowed me to apply it for him. I chalk this up to the couple of drinks and the excitement of Vegas- and because everything you do in Vegas stays there, right?!

Neither of us were prepared to be impressed, but it actually looked not only natural, but really good! You couldn’t see his bald spot at all, it never smeared or ran from sweat- and he even went for a run the next morning, in summer Vegas heat, and the stuff stayed put. It didn’t budge until he showered and used shampoo. The only way I can see it being a little more difficult to apply is up around the hairline- his bald spot is on the back of his head so you don’t have to be as careful as you would on the front of the head to keep the fibers from applying to the forehead.

This trial was a complete success, and he even keeps a bottle around for dressy occasions. He hasn’t abandoned the ball cap, but he likes having the product for occasions when we’re taking pictures or going out. I recommend it- give it a try if you or someone you know is experiencing thinning hair.

Also- another product the Beauty Store carries that I want to mention and highly recommend-products from Caswell-Massey’s Elixir of Love collection. This company has been around since the 1700s, and their packaging looks like it hasn’t changed at all! A friend of mine always buys the Elixir of Love cologne, and I love the smell, but I prefer the lighter fragrance you get from using the body wash.

elixir-of-love

Caswell-Massey also has the Almond & Aloe collection of soaps and bath products. I’m an almond nut (hee hee!) and these smell so good you want to eat them.

I hope you all are having a wonderful 2010, I have a great feeling about this year and believe that good things are on their way. Think good thoughts, and I’ll leave you with my OPI color of the week- the classic, iconic I’m Not Really a Waitress!!

waitress

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It’s down to the wire for holiday gifts! Jane Iredale, AHAVA, and Jack Black

Posted by Bella B. in 15. Dec, 2009, under Beauty Products, Gifts, Minerals, Natural Beauty, Products for men

Gift time!

Gift time!

If you’re like me, you plan every year to start shopping early and have everything taken care of before December ever arrives. For me at least, the intent is always there but somehow I still end up scrambling in the few weeks before Christmas to make sure everyone has the perfect gift. I’m not one of those people who can run out and buy any old thing, I spend lots of time thinking about each person and the gift that will show them that I DID spend all that time thinking of them! I know, call me nutty, but gift season for me means taking the time to show everyone I care about how much they mean to me. If only I started thinking about this EARLIER!

My favorite stocking stuffers are usually geared toward the season- and this season I’ve definitely got dry, cracked winter hands so I know my friends and family are probably suffering as well. One of the best remedies for cracked cuticles and chapped hands that I’ve found is the AHAVA Mineral Hand Cream. It absorbs right away and doesn’t leave the thick greasy coating that many intensive hand moisturizers do.

ahavaAHAVA products are created with minerals from the Dead Sea, a repository for highly-concentrated natural elements like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron. Minerals are essential for maintaining healthy, supple, young-looking skin- in ancient times, the beautiful Cleopatra came to the Dead Sea to partake in spa treatments!

Speaking of minerals, I’ve over the years gradually come to the conclusion that pure mineral makeup is the only way to go. I wear makeup every day, and it only makes sense that what you put on your skin daily should be good for your skin, not just used to camouflage flaws and cover things up. Your makeup should help improve the look of your skin. The Beauty Store carries the #1 choice of skin care professionals…Jane Iredale. Once you’ve started using this line, it will be hard to go back to any other brand. Jane Iredale makeup:

  • Is non-comedogenic (won’t block pores)
  • Is anti-inflammatory, calms and soothes skin
  • Is recommended by dermatologists and plastic surgeons
  • Covers acne, scarring, and redness from treatments like chemical peels
  • Is composed of inert minerals that don’t allow the growth of bacteria
  • Provides up to SPF 30
  • Has been sensitivity-tested
  • Poses almost no allergy risk
  • Has no talcs, parabens, fragrance or synthetic preservatives

Seriously, mineral makeup is a world apart from drugstore lines. My very favorite product from Jane I. is the Sugar & Butter Lip Plumper- look one side is an exfoliant that tastes like sugar and vanilla- spread on and rub your lips together- the other side is a super-moisturizing tinted lip plumper- so fun!! The sugar side is actually organic brown sugar, so you can eat it…and I do. The one I carry is a pink with touches of glittery gold- not a lot of color, just right for daytime. Make sure to not extend the sugar side all the way out- it tends to get loose and fall off.

sugarbutter

The cool think about Jane I. is that many of their colors look good on a wide variety of skin tones- it’s always worth it to find YOUR perfect color, but know that this makeup is pretty forgiving.

I like the Dubonnet blush…

dubonnet

Have brown/hazel eyes, so love the Oyster/Supernova eye shadow pair (Purples look great with dark eyes!)… (this pic is crummy but it’s the light shade and darker purple at the far left)

My Jane Iredale color palette

My Jane Iredale color palette

I use the lid primer all the time, in Petal- I discovered lid primer not too long ago and no longer have to worry about errant brush strokes with my eyeshadow! I always had the problem of too much in the crease, or not enough on the lids- the primer kind of preps the surface and makes application a lot easier. Plus this shade is light and shimmey and looks good even by itself.

And for going out at night I usually wear foundation- the Liquid Minerals foundation comes with these little globules suspended in clear liquid- I always mix it up a little on my hand before applying…they suggest using a brush for foundation but I like to use the tips of my fingers.

Liquid Minerals from Jane Iredale

Liquid Minerals from Jane Iredale

My staple is the undereye concealer, I’ve used lots of different brands but like this one the best. It’s not too yellow like some, and it doesn’t run. The brush tip applicator works lots better than a pencil or crayon-like applicator:

undereye-concealer

 

Of course, we can’t forget the men on our gift list! Guys were left out of the loop when it came to skincare and grooming products for years, but that’s not the case anymore. Thankfully- we love you boys but it does us good to see you cleaned up sometimes. The Jack Black line was created for the “manly men”- frill- and fuss-free, multi-use products for less time in the shower and a closer shave. My fiance likes the Beard Lube and the All-Over Body Wash- great addition to the gym bag because it can be used as shampoo and body wash.

jack_blackThe Beard Lube is a pre-shave oil, shaving cream, and facial treatment in one. It’s transparent so you can see where you’re shaving, and softens whiskers for less razor burn. All of these Jack Black products smell “manly” too, no girly scents.

I guess it’s off to shop for me for the rest of the day! I have a feeling today will be a good day for a stop at Thunderbird Coffee…

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