Archive for the ‘Reviews and Product Features’ Category

Striplac – Easy Gel Nails At Home!

Available at most beauty & nail salons, Gel or Shellac nails are an industry standard for long lasting, high shine nail colour. Busy women struggle to fit lengthy salon appointments into schedules filled with meetings, errands, housework, and soccer games. Alessandro International, dedicated to the beauty of the modern woman, recruited top European chemists to develop an at home system that offers the same results with less work and fewer chemicals. Working in a state of the art German laboratory, these scientists developed Striplac.

Once cured beneath the UV/LED Light, Striplac Nail Polishes provide long lasting, high gloss Shellac for up to 10 days! Ready to change colours? No Solvents. No Acetone. The innovative gel nail formula simply peels off.

That’s right. It Peels Off… no harsh chemicals that can ruin your nails.

Here are The Top 5 Reasons Why I LOVE Striplac:

1. Striplac is way more convenient then going to the salon. The entire application took about half an hour to put on while watching “Mad Men”. When I was ready to remove it? No second appointment needed, it peeled off smoothly and in less than a minute!
2. The Striplac UV light is small compared to other kits (making it easy to store) but still able to do a full pedicure!
3. My nails were glossy, strong and scratch free for over a week! The Striplac colour stayed vibrant through dishes, gardening, and even a dip at the pool! Currently, there are 24 colours available, and it’s going up to 55 by the end of the year!
4. No Acetone or solvents! <– This is a BIG win in my book! As I have successfully managed to spill Nail Polish Remover on my couch, carpet, linoleum floor, desk, coffee table, and even once had a cat knock it down a flight of stairs (Talk about a mess!)
5. Did I mention that it just PEELS OFF?! The top layers peel off cleanly and a thin protective layer remains on the nails. Once filed smooth, your nails feel stronger and look gorgeous!

As a pre-Mother’s Day treat, I invited my mom over for a quick Striplac manicure. Growing up, I always admired how perfect her polished nails looked. An elementary school teacher, she kept a rainbow of colours beneath he bathroom sink, one for every possible event. Purple on Sports Day, Orange for Halloween, Pastels for Easter, and shimmering reds for Christmas. She even let me practice rudimentary nail art (mostly flowers made of dots) that she diligently wore until they were too chipped to recognize. My favourite part was when she’d let me paint her right hand. The goal was, of course, to make sure it was just as smooth as the left… but I generally ended up making even more of a mess!

Now that I’m grown and a full nail polish addict, my skills have improved significantly. With a cup of coffee and the latest episode of “House Hunters International”, I set about giving my mom a special mothers day manicure! The Striplac Starter Kit includes a 4-Step File and Cuticle Pusher. I did use a touch of CND Solar Oil on her cuticles. The nails have to be completely dry for the Gel to adhere properly, so I spent a few extra minutes buffing and filing her nails. As we age, the ridges in our nails become more pronounced. Proper buffing makes a huge difference in decreasing the visible age of your hands. Many aging celebs, such as Madonna, are starting to wear gloves in public to help hide the ‘age’ of their hands.

Once the maintenance portion of the manicure is completed, it’s time for the fun part- POLISH! There are 4 layers in a Striplac Manicure, a base coat, a colour coat, a second colour coat and, finally, a top coat. Each coat is cured under the UV light for 60 seconds before adding the next. After the top coat is put on and cured, gently remove the stick surface layer with a cleaning pad and your nails are locked in!

She ended up wearing her Striplac Nails for a week before opting to peel them off and change colours! The bold and professional look was perfect for her weekend away as she didn’t have to worry about scratches or chips while  travelling.  Plus, when she was ready to change colours, she didn’t have to track down a salon or bottle of acetone. A Striplac Manicure is now one of her travelling essentials!

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

 

Discover… Pangea Organics

Spa Boutique is excited to announce the newest addition to our growing organic family, Pangea Organics!  A natural line that believes beauty should be organic, cruelty-free and nutrient dense. Concentrated formulas eliminate filler so  your skin feels only the best botanicals, oils, and nutrients nature has to offer.

With so many award-wining products, it’s hard to know where to start! We recommend checking out the Italian Red Mandarin with Rose Lip Balm. The light rose and citrus scent is a perfect way to gear up for Valentine’s Day! This 2008 Natural Solutions Beauty With A Conscience winner, and Real Simple Magazine Pick is packed with essential oils. This Lip Balm protects and soothes while providing a deep level of hydration. Also available in Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom and Egyptian Fennel with Grapefruit & Sweet Orange!

The Canadian Pine with White Sage Hand Soap is a fantastic way to begin introducing Pangea Organics into your home. Winner of The Healing Life Styles and Spas Earth Day Award, talk about a soap that is not only antiseptic but hydrating and refreshing too! Available as a Bar Soap or Body Wash, the pine scent leaves your sink or shower naturally fresh. 

Discover Pangea Discovery Kits! With a wide range of skin options, from combination, dry or blemish prone, there’s a start set for everyone.  Each 6 piece Pangea Organics Discovery Kit includes a Facial Cleanser, Facial Toner, Facial Cream, Facial Scrub, Facial Mask and Eye cream in a convenient sample size.  Each product comes in a different scent- a great way to get to know their entire line!

Oily skin? Try the Oily to Blemish-Prone Discovery Kit; hydrating without adding surface oil. The weightless hydration and sebum-control calms surface inflammation. As part of your morning, this kit provides a fantastic foundation for make-up!

Looking to renew dry, damaged skin?  The Normal to Dry Discovery Kit uses nutrients and botanicals to provide superior hydration as well as work some anti-aging magic!

Combination Skin? We’ve got you covered! The Normal to Combination Discovery Kit offers the best of both worlds. With nature’s best anti-aging, purifying and soothing ingredients, this kit replenishes dull, dehydrated or sun damaged skin.

Great news! Pangea Organics are considered safe for pregnancy (even the scented ones!) due to the concentration levels of their essential oils.  Pangea Organics produces their products with as many Vegan ingredients as possible. The products selected for Spa Boutique are Gluten-Free. All Pangea Organics products are cruelty free and have a shelf-life of up to 12 months once opened.

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

Spa Boutique launches new Health & Supplements category and Vega

We are very excited about the launch of our newest category – Health & Supplements!  The category includes all different types of health & wellness products including teas and nutritional supplements.  We simultaneously launched the well-known, vegan health and supplement brand Vega.

 

Vega was started by Canadian Ironman triathlete, Brendan Brazier, who found that there was a need for an all-in-one, plant-based, whole-food derived, protein and nutritional shake.  After a year of product formulation and testing, Brendan came up with his very first version of the very first Vega product, Vega One.  Vega One contains 50% of your daily intake of vitamins and minerals!  You can expect to notice increased health and energy with regular use and the long term health benefits are outstanding!

Vega has since expanded and includes many more health products like health & energy shakes, snack bars, vegan omega oil blends, and sport performance products.

Whether you are an athlete, a health & exercise guru, or just a regular person who cares about your body and nutrition, Vega has something beneficial for everyone!

Click here to see full line of Vega products>>

 

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

Spa Boutique Staff Picks – December 2012

Here are the newest product picks that our team members are using and loving!

Rebekah – Esthetician/Store Supervisor

Vince Camuto Woman Lotion

‘It smells beautiful and leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated!’

Angela – Junior Merchandiser

Catwalk Curlesque Curls Rock Amplifier

‘I love this product because it defines my waves and gives my hair bounce without weighing it down and making it greasy.  The best part is that it lasts a long time because a little amount goes a long way!’

Tracy – Hair Stylist/Inventory & Shipping Coordinator

Joico Design Collection Humidity Blocker

‘It stops those frizzy hairs from popping up in the cold winter season and there’s no stickiness or residue left behind!’

Deigh-Anna – Marketing Manager

Comptoir Sud Pacifique Spray – Vanille Coco Eau de Toilette Vapo

‘The smell of this perfume reminds me of summer – I love the perfect mix of coconut and vanilla!’

Leanne – Esthetician/HR Program Manager

Spa Boutique Signature Line: Citrus Vanilla Rich Body Lotion

‘The citrus scent is uplifting and a great way to start my day. The texture of the lotion is light but leaves my skin nourished and feeling so soft!’

Lauren – Esthetician/Customer Care

Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Milk

‘This is one of the best cleansers I’ve used – it smells amazing and leaves my skin feeling clean and smooth!’

Shirley – Esthetician

Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover

‘I’ve always had very dry, flaky nails and since I started using the Zoya polish remover my nails have totally improved! The polish comes off so easy too.  It’s something I’ll always use in the future.’

Parmit – Junior Merchandiser

Redken Powder Refresh 01

‘It works well for fine hair without weighing it down, it adds volume, and it brushes through very easily!  Also, the scent is light and pleasant unlike others I’ve tried.’

Shawna – Esthetician/Beauty Blogger

Jane Iredale 24 Karat Gold Dust Shimmers

'These shimmer powders are so great for this time of year since they are so bright and glittery! They come in all different colors and look amazing paired with black liner on the upper lid!

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!

 

 

 

How to Brighten Skin & Lighten Pigmentation: Guinot Newhite Collection

Whether caused by hormones, UV exposure, or inflammation, dark spots and uneven skin tone can be very tricky to clear up.  This is a long process which requires vigilance and dedication.  To effectively brighten skin tone and lighten hyperpigmentation it is necessary to use a two step approach: prevention & correction.  While the correction stage may end once results are achieved, the prevention stage will have to continue permanently if you wish to maintain bright and clear skin.

As this skin condition is becoming more and more of an issue, skin care companies are searching out the best ingredients and methods of correction and creating product lines specifically targeting the issue.  While Guinot Paris had a couple of brightening products in the past, they found it necessary to create a new, full, brightening line using the most effective technologies available.  The new line is called Newhite and it includes 7 brand-new products.

 

Guinot Newhite Products

Guinot Newhite Perfect Brightening Cleansing Milk - gently cleanses skin with a fresh, cream-gel texture

Guinot Newhite Perfect Brightening Cleansing Oil - removes all makeup including long-wear and water-proof • rinses clean with no residue once it comes in contact with water • instant brightening effect

Guinot Newhite Perfect Brightening Lotion – stimulates & refreshes skin • finishing touch to makeup removal

Guinot Newhite Instant Brightening Mask – intensive treatment mask for lightening & evening skin tone

Guinot Newhite Vitamin C Brightening Serum – potent Vitamin C serum which works intensely on lightening pigmentation spots • Vitamin C is also a strong antioxidant and helps to stimulate collagen

Guinot Newhite Brightening Day Cream SPF 30 – brightens skin and protects against harmful UV damage

Guinot Newhite Brightening Night Cream – brightens skin during the night with no SPF

Guinot Newhite Brightening Skin Care Program Kit – comes with Vitamin C Serum, Instant Brightening Mask, Brightening Day Cream, and Brightening Night Cream

To further protect your skin during and after your treatment, use a mineral makeup powder for full-spectrum UV protection every single day of the year.

If you have any questions about the Guinot Newhite line or skin pigmentation issues, feel free to contact one of our estheticians!

As always, just for being a follower of our blog, enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter, like our Facebook  page, and check out our boards on Pinterest! You could be the lucky winner of one of our many contests!