AliShops Blog » Beauty

A new eco-spa in St. Paul

Ali — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:16:19 +0000

Eco-tique on Grand Avenue in St. Paul has morphed into Nature of Beauty, as the online retailer has gradually taken over the entire space with its eco-friendly skincare and cosmetics. But not one to remain idle for long, owner Terry Bly is planning a big move to The Village at Mendota Heights, where she will open a Nature of Beauty store and spa, offering a full menu of massage facials and body treatments using organic products. She’ll be bringing on spa-grade brands, so you can be green and get a glycolic peel. The store will open Oct. 1 followed by the spa on Nov. 1.

Biggest Estee Lauder giveaway ever

Ali — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:34:54 +0000

Estee Lauder will give away a 10-day supply of its new A dvanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex or Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex (I could take it seriously without the long name) on Thursday, July 22 from 5 to 9 p.m. They’re calling it “America’s Night to Repair.” The beauty company will distribute 360,000 of the deluxe samples at Estee Lauder counters nationwide. If last year was any indication, there won’t be any leftovers. The highly touted products are said to repair skin damage and erase signs of aging. The new formula is targeted specifically for the delicate eye area. Advanced Night Repair sells for $47.50 to $49.50. Bring your girlfriends – just one sample per customer while supplies last.

Shellac removal

Ali — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:26:41 +0000

I’ve never taken off nail polish that still looked this good. This photo was taken after two weeks of Shellac, when the only sign of wear was growth at the base of my nail bed. So, should you get shellacked? Read my review in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Shellac, after 1 week

Ali — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 03:04:12 +0000

Never in my life. One week after my nails were polished with Shellac, they’re still perfect. Not one chip. Every time I look at them, I’m delightfully surprised.

Extrados merger

Ali — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:41:57 +0000

The only surprise about today’s announcement that Extrados plans to close its original brow waxing shop at 50th and Xerxes in South Minneapolis is that it didn’t happen three years ago, when the Extrados Salon and Spa opened nearby in Linden Hills. Owner Leah Simon-Clarke says the time has come to merge the two and reemerge as a destination for “total beauty,” including personal growth seminars and fitness classes. June 26 is the final day for Extrados at 50th & Xerxes. Look for discounts on products and services at the Linden Hills location throughout July.

Shellacked

Ali — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:03:10 +0000

I’ve been Shellacked. It’s the latest hybrid between color and gel from Creative Nail Design and is said to last two weeks without chipping. At $50, it’s less expensive than gel nails, and said to be less work. Shellac goes on just like polish, but dries literally in seconds under a UV lamp. First impressions: My nails look perfect, and I mean perfect. Generally, by the time I leave the salon, I’ve already smudged at least a pinky. These shiny, hard, but normal feeling nails seem utterly resistant to my abuse. Rhonda Hansford at Uptown’s Jason Deavalon Salon is one of the first in town to offer the service. The one added step is polish removal, which is more of a process since the color is cured to the nails. It’s $10 to have Hansford take off the polish, but the charge is waived with reapplication. Take-home “Shellac Remover Wraps” are available. But before we get to that, let’s see if it really survives a weekend filled with t-ball, not tea parties.

Euphoria Cut-a-Thon

Ali — Wed, 12 May 2010 05:16:31 +0000

Your hair cut will do good for more than your appearance this Sunday, May 16 during the Cut-a-Thon at Euphoria Salon in St. Paul. Cuts cost $40 and 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Awareness Association of Minnesota. Stylists from several salons are participating, including Accolades, Moxie, Salon George, Root and Cole’s. DJs will spin disco in the parking lot. Enjoy appetizers from local restaurants Punch Pizza, Highland Griller, Cossetta’s and others. And leave with a gift bag. Call 651-698-6385 to book an appointment.

Horst to open new organic salon

Ali — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:26:05 +0000

Forget your Brazilian Blowouts, keratin treatments and Moroccan oils: The next big salon trend is going organic. In the Twin Cities, we've already got a handful of "organic" salons that pride themselves on using non-toxic products. There's Hairs2You in Roseville, the new Kasia Organic Salon in South Minneapolis and Nurturing You Beyond Organic, also in Minneapolis. But the tipping point could be this breaking news: Aveda founder and Intelligent Nutrients creator Horst Rechelbacher plans to open a new organic salon in the Twin Cities. Today, IN's Facebook page announced April 19 auditions for "rockstar hairstylists with 8 to 10 years experience, a strong client base and "a sense of adventure." More details to come!

Jade is the New Black

Ali — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 06:20:41 +0000

Ready for a pedi? Before you put those boots in the closet, read reviews of 10 Twin Cities pedicures for $40 or less in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. I was so busy cramming in the not-so-fun (and occasionally creepy) details about cleanliness that there wasn't room to talk polish. Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, executive vice president and artistic director of OPI
Products Inc. says its time to trade black for dark green. In fact, one of the new colors she's banking on for spring is called Jade is the New Black (I want the job of naming these colors). Another hot hue to accent your strappy sandals: red-orange, or as OPI calls it, Hot & Spicy. Says Weiss-Fischmann, "I love this shade against a tan."

Brazilian Blowout wrap-up

Ali — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 06:59:38 +0000

The saga of the hair never ends, but my deadline has come and gone. You'll find my Brazilian Blowout review in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press. I was conscious of not wanting to make it sound like a miracle – I get so tired of reading only raves in magazines. But I hope I didn't underplay the results in the process. It did help my hair. It's more manageable, less frizzy and easier to style. Still the price is steep and even after, smooth hair still requires work. The results are limited to your ability to style your own hair. Case in point: me, in the hands of professionals, and a couple weeks later, on my own.

I heard from the Minnesota educator for Brazilian Blowout today. She points out that it takes practice for professional stylists to get the hang of applying the treatment and that can impact the results. She also said the BB is a cumulative treatment, so regular application might mean you eventually need it just twice a year. Click here to find salons in your area that offer the Brazilian Blowout. Competing protein or Keratin treatments, usually $300 and up, are widely available. And every salon will tell you why theirs is best. A couple more tips:
- Get your hair colored before the treatment. You are supposed to avoid color for two weeks after the Brazilian Blowout, and if you're due, it will be even more obvious when your hair is smoother and shinier.
- Use a sulfate-free shampoo. (Good advice, with or without a blowout.)
- Consider the Brazilian Blowout styling products. I'm really liking the Daily Smoothing Serum.
- If you dare to take your hair to the beach or a pool, a stylist told me to rub a smoothing cream through my hair on the spot to make it more manageable then, and later.