By SBC

Spa Week, April 12 – April 18, 2010, the brainchild of New Yorker Cheryl Reid.  Inspired in 2004 to educate hurried, stressed-out, exhausted New Yorkers about the benefits of the spa lifestyle as a normal part of a healthy lifestyle in a cost-effective way.  Discounted Spa services at approximately $50, rates you can’t get any other time.

No longer reserved as an indulgence for the rich and famous, Spa Week makes the Spa Experience an oh so affordable experience.  Spa treatments aren’t just massages, manicures, pedicures, facials and waxing, they also highlight healthy living utilizing specialty treatments to relieve stress, quit smoking, improve circulation, assist in weight loss and much more.

Today Spa Week has spread to over 29 cities across North America with over 700 participating spas, with corporate sponsors like Saab, eBay, Conair, CEW and Allure Magazine to name a few.

Shine Worthy Steals & Deals

Vajazzling (exactly what it sounds like, bedazzling your vajajay) – Vaginal Crystal Adornment, a new concept to feel great about your privates. Try Completely Bare – Bond, NEW YORK CITY, www.completelybare.com

Teeth whitening changes your reflection to the world.  Try Atlanta Medical Day Spa & Surgery Center, MARIETTA, GEORGIA.  www.atlantamedicaldayspa.com

Manicures & Pedicures are part of beauty “101.”  Experience the decadence and get your skin and nails ready for Spring. Try the 90 Min Chocoholic Manicure and Pedicure at Chocolate For Your Body , an Aveda Family Spa, CHICAGO, IL.  www.chocolateforyourbody.com

Acupuncture promotes health and alleviates pain and suffering by stimulating the internal organs to naturally treat imbalances.  It treats many conditions ranging from addictions, weight loss, depression, PMS, indigestion, allergies and headaches to name a few. Try the 45 Min Total Body Acupuncture Treatment at Farashe’ the Day Spa, COLUMBIA, MD.  www.farashe.com

Massage is one of the oldest and simplest forms of therapy.  The goal is to help the body heal itself and increase health and well-being.  Try Body Bar Spa, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.  www.bodybarspa.com

A Brazilian Bikini Wax can polish your presentation for yourself, the beach or a romantic evening. Try Toka Salon & Day Spa in Georgetown, WASHINGTON, DC.  www.tokasalon.com

Facials cleanse, exfoliate and nourish to promote clear well-hydrated skin.  A good facial captures the fountain of youth. Try Clarins Signature Youth Booster Facial Treatment at Clarins Skin Spa at Bloomingdales, Bloomingdales The Falls Mall, MIAMI, FL. www.clarins.com

Find out about Spa Week in your city and book your appointment today, www.spaweek.com.  Here’s to a stubble free, vajazzled, relaxing week, Shine Brightly with Spa Week.

Jalah Touryalai . Marketing Assistant . Intl Trade Association

By Lauren Chiarello

Beauty bags are somewhat of a necessity for women. They usually contain the items that can transform a bad day into a fabulous one.  So when I decided to ask the question ‘What’s in your beauty bag?’ I turned to my self-proclaimed beauty expert/friend Jalah Touryalai.   I discovered her knack for beauty, specifically makeup, on our recent trip to London together.   I was in awe of all her unique products and amazed by how she applied her eye shadow so precisely.

Nars Highlighting/Bronzing Blush Duo in Orgasm/Laguna

So when I asked her what was in her (cute leopard print) beauty bag she told me, ‘Nars Highlighting/Bronzing Blush Duo in Orgasm/Laguna, MAC Black Eyeliner, Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo, Chapstick, and Diorshow Black Mascara.’ When she told me more about why she carried some of the items, she explained, “Chapstick is essential– it constantly moisturizes my lips and adds a subtle hint of color.”   She also raved about the Nars Duo, “This stuff is amazing! You can go from sickly, pale looking to just got back from the Bahamas in seconds flat. It brightens up your face no matter how you are feeling.”

Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo

She also let me in on a little secret. She uses the Oscar Blandi dry shampoo to freshen up her bangs while she is at work. She told me, “I go into the bathroom on my lunch break and just use a little to recreate the look of freshly blown out bangs– and it works!”  So there you have it, the five items this beauty maven can’t live, or shine brightly, without.

By Tinéa Williams

Photo Source: Bjooti.net

L’Occitane is emerging from a long makeup hiatus to introduce their Peony Makeup Collection just in time for spring. Launching on April 11^th, Peony Makeup is a natural option for fun, flirty shades inspired by the many colors of the Peony flower.

Photo Source: Bjooti.net

Using 100% natural pigments this collection of eye shadows, blushes and lip colors offers an easy natural look ($12–$28). These light weight, gentle hues allow pores to breathe easy and is great for sensitive skin (believe me; my skin fights me about most products). Now don’t run to the boutique expecting a full fledge makeover, because that is not what Peony is about. The color collection is designed to enhance your natural features. Not only will your skin jump for joy that this is 95% natural with no harsh chemicals, but your conscience can rest easy knowing that the beautiful packaging is made from all recyclable plastic and cardboard (phew!!).

This limited edition color story is a must try to touchup your spring look!

By Amelia Hamilton

When looking at natural and organic beauty products lately, you may have noticed that some are proudly proclaiming themselves to be “Paraben-Free.” But why, you may find yourself wondering, does it matter, and why should you buy them?

Parabens  are preservatives found in many cosmetics, soaps, lotions and hair-care products. While there are natural parabens, most are artificially created for these products do not belong in a healthy natural lifestyle. The main reason to avoid parabens is that they are estrogenic compounds, which means that they act like estrogen. Weight gain, premature aging, and even certain kinds of cancer are among the suspected effects of the overuse of parabens. While these products are likely safe in small doses, women use several products a day and it adds up quickly.

Be sure to read labels, and check to make sure that your products are paraben-free. Being labeled “organic” or “natural” does not guarantee a paraben-free product. While different compounds begin with different prefixes (Propyl, Butyl, Methyl, Ethyl and Iso), they will all end in “paraben.” If you see that pesky word on the bottle, put it back. Your local health-food store will have great alternative products, and are found on the shelves of more mainstream stores all the time.

Paraben-free products are a healthier alternative, and still work great. So, next time you’re out buying lotion or shampoo, be sure to check the label so that you may continue to shine brightly with natural health.

By Shadine Ménard

Founder of Urbanbella . Keneesha Hudson . ATL, GA . www.urbanbella.com

Urbanbella is a haven for women with kinky, curly and wavy hair in Atlanta… This is the spot that not only provides hair care, answers and relaxation to its clients, but satisfaction and revenue to its owner, Keneesha Hudson.

As an avid swimmer Keneesha decided to go natural to avoid damaged chemically processed hair: “I never regretted my choice, but that’s not to say it wasn’t scary. ‘Would I still feel feminine?  Would my husband like it?’ I realized that if I wanted to feel confident with my new look, I needed to learn more about it.” And that she did, by purchasing, testing and sorting through most “curly” hair products. If there was a product in the store that had curly, kinky and wavy on it, she could tell you if it worked or not and how to use it to your advantage.

Her beautiful hair and the compliments she received about it daily prompted the former financial consultant to want to share her trial and errors with others. In 2004 the Urbanbella website was launched with just an email blast. Its owner started providing tips as well as doing personalized consultations until the demand for her consultations were so great that in 2006 she opened the first Urbanbella store in Buckhead, Atlanta. Keneesha and her husband invested time, money and countless hours of hard work to turn her hobby into a profitable business.

Urbanbella retails Devachan and Jane Carter to name a few

“We truly spent about 2 years building the concept, studying and learning about different hair types and products and how it all fits together,” says Keneesha of her and her husband’s decision to open the physical store. “I knew we had to take the retail experience for hair to a higher level and that would require providing the consumer with more knowledge than they were currently getting in today’s retail experience.  We have slowly filtered money in the business overtime by looking at the overall goal and breaking that down into components, so we started with the website which can be a $10,000 investment and a few months later we moved into designing a store…Our approach has been to take these projects on slowly and one at a time.”

According to her this store now has over 30 salon appointments and 200 retail customers per week. Not bad for what started as a quest to make her own natural hair look fab.

The key to Urbanbella’s success is that inside its bright blue walls with pink furniture, zebra-print rugs and hanging chandeliers, it makes every girl feel like a celebrity and its concept is unlike any other. It starts with a “hair education”: a one-on-one consultation, a hair and scalp massage, explanation of the best products for them as well as the purchase of those products for the customer’s use.

Keneesha Hudson shines brightly because she rocks her natural beauty and brings it out in others while growing financially. “Try as hard as possible to think outside of the box—find that empty niche and fill it!” Now that’s a smart woman!

A glimpse of a smile through the devastation

Zerran donated Clean Dry Shampoo, a combination shampoo and body wash specifically formulated to be used in situations where a traditional shower isn’t easily available. A small, but meaningful way to show our appreciation for the tireless work these medical professionals are doing to save lives in Haiti, says Van Steelandt.”

By SBC

K. Brookins . Clemson, SC .Certified Nutritionalist

Shine caught up with Kimberly Brookins, a Certified Nutritionalist and beauty enthusiasts from Clemson, South Carolina.

Kimberly’s beauty is one of polished sophistication like her style. She prefers a glamourous look with a healthy coif, clear skin enhancing make-up, with well manicured nails.

Kimberly’s Shining Product, Christian Dior Sun Powder Spray

“I have been using the CD

Powder Spray for about 6

weeks, I love it because it

gives my face a smooth fresh

and glowing sun-kissed look

that conceals your beauty

flaws.”

L-R | Christian Dior Sun Powder Spray, 2 Pencils (MAC .Chestnut Lip Liner, Graph Black Technakohl Eye Liner).1 Shadow Sponge Applicator, 1 Shadow Brush, 2 Pencils (MAC .Engraved Powder Paint Eye Pencil, Chestnut Lip Liner (small pencil), 1 MAC Pencil (point Black. Kim also uses this pencil to create special beauty marks), 4 MAC Lustre glass Lip Glosses (Angel Wing, Morning Glory, Viva Glam V, Elegant Peach), 2 MAC Shadows (Brown Script (top), Falling Star (Bottom), 2 L’Oreal (Original Volumious Mascara, Liner Intensive), 3 Bobby Pins, 1 Co. Bigelow Lip Balm Stick, 1 Sponge Round Makeup Applicator

Kimberly’s beauty Shines Brightly inside and out!

Micabella Power Foundation

By Adriana Nova

The Shine team’s been in high gear working our booth at IBS but that doesn’t mean we haven’t taken time to check out some of the hottest up-and-coming products in the biz! With the splash Bare Escentuals made on the scene earlier this year, “Mineral Makeup” has become a beauty buzz term and one of the best brands we discovered on the show floor is Micabella Cosmetics. With a motto that reads “Where Nature and Beauty Collide,” Micabella’s all-natural ingredients are free of dyes, preservatives, and oils, and are gentle yet effective enough to use on even the most sensitive skin. And it’s not just empty calories: all products are packed with antioxidants that protect and help heal skin from damage.

Micabella’s foundation goes on smooth as silk with just a few sprinkles of powder and some quick brushes and blending (no primer needed). Need more coverage? Apply as necessary without worrying that it’ll appear caked: the powder is so fine that it layers like a blush and feels just as light. It’s been three days straight of using it now, and not only are we still well-covered at the end of the day, but the product’s ability to work in tandem with the oils in your skin gives you a soft glow, making the only shine you need to worry about is yours truly

Visit www.micabella.com for further details and retail locations.

Micabella’s foundation goes on smooth as silk with just a few sprinkles of powder and some quick brushes and blending (no primer needed). Need more coverage? Apply as necessary without worrying that it’ll appear caked: the powder is so fine that it layers like a blush and feels just as light. It’s been three days straight of using it now, and not only are we still well-covered at the end of the day, but the product’s ability to work in tandem with the oils in your skin gives you a soft glow, making the only shine you need to worry about is yours truly

GARTH . www.garthintresses.com . NYC

MAVEN GARTH

SHINE Healthy Hair, Warm Spirit

PASSION Natural Hair, Looks Relaxed

SALON Ebony Design . NYC

He hails from the ”Land of the Blessed” as it is known by the Caribs. GARTH is a native of St.Vincent, north of Grenada, south of St. Lucia, and west of Barbados.

In 1997 he moved to the U.S and began working in some of the premiere salons of Brooklyn and New York City. Though his love and passion was hair, GARTH has dabbled in Retail and the Airline industries prior to becoming the accomplished hair stylist he is today.

A seasoned hair care professional, he prides himself in having a genuine interest in your hair. His hair consultations include evaluating your lifestyle, hair texture, facial features and your hair goals.  GARTH is a 360 degree stylist with a robust affinity for color, bond & weave extensions, precision cuts, chemical relaxers & texturizers, but his newest passion is natural hair care.

“Not a lot of people take the time to do natural hair properly, deep conditioning is standard in my natural hair care services. Straightening natural hair (pressing, flat ironing, setting/blow drying) is time consuming, I specialize in helping women grow out their relaxed hair to natural healthy beautiful hair.”